The Hidden Risks of Over the Counter (OTC) and On-Line Hearing Aids

As awareness of hearing loss increases, more people are seeking solutions—and the market has responded with a wave of over-the-counter (OTC) and online hearing aids.

These devices promise affordability, fast delivery, and ease of use. But when it comes to your hearing health, convenience shouldn’t replace proper care. 

While OTC and online hearing aids may work for some, they often leave out crucial steps in the hearing care process—steps that not only ensure better hearing outcomes but protect your overall health. 

Let’s take a closer look at why skipping professional care can lead to bigger problems. 

1. No Audiologic Evaluation Means No Clear Diagnosis 

The first and most essential step in any hearing care journey is a comprehensive audiologic evaluation. This isn’t just a hearing test—it’s a full check-up of your hearing system. It typically includes: 

• A case history to understand your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical background. 

• Otoscopy, a visual exam of your ear canal and eardrum to check for earwax, infections, or physical abnormalities. 

• Pure-tone and speech audiometry to measure the type and severity of hearing loss. 

• Tympanometry or other tests to assess middle ear function. 

Why is this important? Because not all hearing loss is the same—and in some cases, it’s not hearing loss at all. 

You may have earwax buildup or a middle ear infection, both of which can cause temporary or conductive hearing loss. These are easily treatable and may not require a hearing aid at all. 

Worse still, some conditions, like otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear) or acoustic neuroma (a slow-growing tumor on the hearing nerve), can mimic routine hearing loss. These serious medical issues often present with subtle signs—like asymmetrical hearing loss or poor speech clarity—that are only identified through diagnostic testing. 

OTC and online options completely bypass this process, putting you at risk of missing important medical diagnoses. 

2. No Accurate Hearing Test = Poor Device Performance 

Most online hearing aid retailers rely on self-reported symptoms or simple online hearing screenings to guide your purchase. Unfortunately, these are not clinically reliable. 

A professional hearing test, conducted in a sound-treated environment, can identify: 

• The exact frequencies affected by your hearing loss, 

• Your speech recognition ability in quiet and noisy settings, 

• Any asymmetry or patterns that suggest further medical evaluation is needed. 

Without this detailed information, any hearing aid—no matter how advanced—will be poorly matched to your needs. It may amplify sounds you already hear well, fail to boost the ones you struggle with, or distort speech in ways that make communication harder, not easier. 

Buying a hearing aid without a proper test is like buying prescription glasses without an eye exam. You might get lucky—but chances are, you won’t. 

3. Self-Fitting Doesn’t Equal Custom Fitting 

Many OTC hearing aids promote “self-fitting” features, giving users control over volume and sound settings through a mobile app. While this sounds appealing, self-adjustment is rarely enough to ensure the hearing aid performs optimally. 

Hearing aids should be: 

• Programmed to match your audiogram (your unique hearing loss profile), 

• Tuned using real-ear measurements (special tools that verify how sound is delivered in your ear), 

• And adjusted for your personal comfort and listening goals. 

Self-fitting options lack the precision of professional programming. As a result, users may experience: 

• Discomfort or sound fatigue from improper amplification, 

• Poor speech understanding, especially in noise, 

• Overamplification that may worsen hearing over time, 

• Or simply no noticeable improvement, leading them to give up on the device altogether. 

Without guidance, users often feel frustrated and unsupported—through no fault of their own. 

4. No Ongoing Care or Support 

Even the best hearing aid is only as good as the support behind it. When you buy hearing aids through a hearing professional, you're not just getting a device—you’re getting a long-term partner in your hearing care. 

This includes: 

• Regular check-ins and cleanings, 

• Adjustments as your hearing changes over time, 

• Troubleshooting for feedback, distortion, or comfort issues, 

• Reassurance and education for both you and your loved ones, 

• And referrals to medical professionals when necessary. 

Online or OTC purchases rarely come with any of this.

Once your package arrives, you're on your own—and if the device doesn’t work the way you hoped, there's often no one to turn to for answers. 

5. What You Deserve: Personalized, Professional Hearing Care 

Hearing loss affects more than just your ears. It can impact your relationships, your confidence, your safety, and your mental well-being.

That’s why it deserves more than a one-size-fits-all solution. 

At Pelican Hearing, we take the time to connect you with a skilled audiologist in your area that can offer you the hearing care and services you deserve.