Walmart, Best Buy Roll Out OTC Hearing Aids
As of Oct. 17, over-the-counter hearing aids are available to buy across the U.S. The move was initiated by President Joe Biden in July via an executive order, and in August, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the way for the devices to be sold at retailers without a doctor’s visit.
In August, Best Buy and Walmart were among retailers planning to offer OTC hearing devices to shoppers online and in stores. Best Buy launched an assortment of hearing devices for people with mild to moderate hearing loss on BestBuy.com on Oct. 17 along with a hearing assessment tool and will roll out its products to nearly 300 stores by the end of October.
In stores, Best Buy will offer a new interactive shopping experience including an expanded collection of hearing devices. The assortment includes nearly 20 OTC hearing aids, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), TV amplifiers and hearing accessories from some of the most trusted brands in the space, including Lexie Hearing, Nuheara, Jabra Enhance Plus, Lucid Hearing and Eargo, among others. Best Buy’s devices will range in price from $200-$3,000 for a pair.
“Our new in-store hearing experience and expanded selection of over-the-counter hearing aids, PSAPs and TV amplifiers makes the process of getting a hearing device more approachable and affordable,” said Jason Bonfig, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy, in a corporate blog post. “We’re helping our customers find the hearing solution that is right for them by offering best-in-class options at prices that are often significantly less than they might have paid traditionally.”
Best Buy’s Blue Shirts will also be available in stores for assistance and have received training on topics like the anatomy of the ear, stages of hearing loss, general fitting techniques and different features of various devices and brands.
Walmart is also offering an assortment of OTC hearing aids, ranging from $199-$999 per pair. Options will include brands like Lexie powered by Bose and HearX, which connect to Bluetooth and a self-tuning app.