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20Q: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids and Service Delivery Models—What We Know, and What Remains Unclear

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1.  OTC hearing aids, as established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are intended for which specific population?
  1. Adults (18 years and older) with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
  2. All adults regardless of the severity of their hearing loss.
  3. Individuals of any age who are newly diagnosed with hearing loss.
  4. Children under 18 with any degree of hearing loss, provided a parent purchases the device.
2.  What has been the observed market trend in prescription hearing aid sales since the introduction of the OTC category?
  1. Sales have remained flat, with any market growth attributed solely to OTC devices.
  2. Sales have shifted entirely to big-box retailers that offer both prescription and OTC options.
  3. Sales have declined sharply, proving that OTC devices have significantly cannibalized the professional market.
  4. There is no evidence of a decline, and the overall market continues to grow steadily.
3.  What has early research shown regarding the efficacy of self-fitting OTC hearing aids compared to audiologist-fitted devices?
  1. Self-fitting devices consistently outperformed audiologist-fitted devices in speech-in-noise testing.
  2. Preset OTC hearing aids showed greater effectiveness than self-fitting OTC hearing aids across all clinical trials.
  3. Outcomes for self-fitting by users were comparable to those fitted by an audiologist using the same device.
  4. Audiologist-fitted devices provided significantly better outcomes in all subjective and objective measures.
4.  Which of the following consumer traits is NOT indicative that a consumer is a good candidate for successful use of OTC hearing aids?
  1. Self-motivation and a proactive attitude toward managing hearing loss.
  2. Comfort with technology and ability to use smartphone apps.
  3. Denial of hearing difficulties and the need for an intervention.
  4. Realistic expectations of OTC devices.
5.  Which of the following is a research gap identified in the article?
  1. Effectiveness of self-fitting hearing aids.
  2. Benefits and satisfaction associated with using incremental technology and professional services.
  3. Use of OTC hearing aids in remote populations through community-based approaches.
  4. Relative variability of self-fitting vs. preset OTC hearing aids.