Did you know that your hearing health is an important measure of your overall wellness? 

Research shows that hearing loss can lead to a host of other health problems, such as depression, falls, and even dementia. The good news is that hearing aids can not only help you hear better, they can also improve brain function and your quality of life.

But hearing aids are an expensive purchase, making it difficult for many Americans to get treatment for their hearing loss. On Oct. 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a big step toward increasing access to hearing aids for millions of Americans by making over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids available for sale nationwide.

What exactly are OTC hearing aids, and how can you buy them? Read our review of the best OTC hearing aid brands to find out how much they cost, where you can buy them, and what to consider before purchasing. For information on both OTC and prescription hearing aids, read our review of the best hearing aids of 2023.

Yes, the Atom is comfortable. Yes, it’s almost invisible. Yes, it lasts all day on a single charge. But what makes the Audien Atom hearing aid really stand out is its powerful microchip that gives clearer sound in a smaller package. This has allowed it to achieve the most crystal clear sound of any hearing aid on the market.

This latest microchip technology was a HUGE step forward in sound processing, and has allowed Atom Audio to reduce the size of their hearing aid by 22%! This chip can also reduce white noise and background noise so you can hear the person you're talking to even clearer.

In addition to bringing absolute clarity of sound, it has the longest charge of any hearing aid on the market. It will last all day on a single charge, so you never have to worry about running out of battery ever again.

Audien has helped over 300,000 people regain their hearing. And the word is getting out. Millions of Americans suffer from hearing loss, but couldn't do anything about it until now. Hearing aids used to be cost prohibitive for most Americans, typically costing thousands of dollars and requiring hearing tests. Audien Atom is making hearing accessible for millions of Americans for a fraction of the cost.

The short answer is YES! If you've wanted to improve your hearing, but never wanted to invest thousands of dollars into clunky hearing aids, then Audien Atom Hearing Aids are exactly what you need. They're tiny, powerful, and last for up to 20 hours on a single charge. They will finally allow you to be apart of the conversation, and no one will even know you're wearing them.

If you’ve never used a hearing aid before and want a device that’s relatively affordable ($1200) and packed with useful features, the Jabra Enhance Select 100 (previously called Lively Plus) and Jabra Enhance Select 200 (previously called Lively Pro) are both excellent choices. Our panelists loved how easy these sets of hearing aids were to set up, customize, and use. The situational sound modes (such as restaurant and outdoor modes) were actually helpful for reducing background noise while amplifying conversation (which was not the case with the cheaper devices we tested). The traditional, behind-the-ear design stays in place comfortably and is especially water resistant and dust resistant, with an IP68 rating. Both the 100 and the 200 can play back sound from devices like smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth, but only the 200 has the ability to transmit your voice for full headset-style capabilities. (To make calls with the Plus, you have to use the microphone in your phone.) Jabra's generous 100-day return policy gives you ample time to acclimate to your hearing-aid pair and to determine whether it’s a good match. In addition, with a three-year warranty (if you select the Premium package, which we recommend) and three years of included follow-up care, these hearing aids can adjust to meet your needs for a good long while. This combination of lower pricing, excellent extended customer service, and a long trial period makes a Jabra Enhance Select 100 or Jabra Enhance Select 200 pair an ideal place to start if you’ve never used hearing aids before.

The Eargo 6 is a diminutive set of hearing aids; they sit in each ear canal without obstructing it. This unique design may be especially appealing to people who dislike the feeling or look of traditional hearing aids, which have a sound tube or wire that drapes over the ear. The Eargo 6 provides situational sound profiles that you can activate by tapping the earpiece or toggling settings in the app. The IPX7 waterproof rating means the Eargo 6 can handle sweat and physically active lifestyles, even if you dunk your head into water. Though the 45-day return policy is not the most generous among the devices we tested, that should be sufficient time for you to allow your ears to acclimate to the Eargo 6 and decide whether this set is right for you. A two-year warranty covers any technical hiccups, and in those two years, you get one-time loss protection. However, the Eargo 6’s Bluetooth connectivity is only for adjusting settings; this pair cannot stream music or calls, so if you want those things, you’ll have to rely on headphones or your device’s built-in speakers.

The Tweak Enhance is legally considered a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) for now, but its design and technology are similar to those of traditional behind-the-ear hearing aids. This is one of the few PSAPs that our panelists said they would purchase. Most similarly priced and cheaper PSAPs we tested had a too-broad or generic approach in their hearing augmentation, but the Tweak Enhance’s amplification and situational sound settings provided a meaningful boost, and the app offers useful hearing customization. Although you must connect the Enhance to a smartphone app for the initial setup, you can make all other day-to-day adjustments on the device itself, a helpful feature for people who want hearing amplification that’s specific to their ears but don’t want to rely on a smartphone. The Tweak Enhance is just for amplifying sounds around you, so this PSAP can’t stream music or calls—but for some people, that’s acceptable or even preferable. The Enhance is sold individually ($350) or as a pair ($700), which provides nice flexibility for people who need only a little boost in one ear. The 30-day money-back guarantee gives you some time to acclimate before making a decision, and though the six-month warranty is far from the best coverage we’ve seen, you can purchase an extended warranty that covers you for two years with no deductible.

The Jabra Enhance Plus set was one of the first hearing aids released with the goal of meeting FDA over-the-counter regulations. For people who are averse to hearing aids that look like hearing aids, the Enhance Plus’s earbud-like design may be appealing. As with a good pair of earbuds, the high-quality built-in microphones help you sound great to your callers, and because the set is IP52 rated for dust and water resistance, it can handle some light rain or sweat. Although the 10-hour battery life per charge is great for earbuds, that duration may fall short for hearing aids. Jabra offers a 45-day refund period, which gives you time to decide whether this set will work for you, plus a one-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects. At $800, the Enhance Plus costs less than most hearing aids, so it may be a good first step for someone who is reluctant to invest heavily in hearing enhancement.