The upcoming OTC Hearing Aid and Hearing Self-Care Symposium at the University of Pittsburgh on June 7 will bring together experts in pharmacy, audiology, and public health. The symposium aims to discuss how over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids can enhance patient access to hearing health care in the United States. With around 30 million adults in the U.S. experiencing some level of hearing loss, only a small percentage of them seek hearing aids despite their potential benefits.
The FDA introduced a new category of OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss in the fall of 2022 to address this issue. During the symposium, pharmacists and audiologists will collaborate on promoting the safe and effective use of hearing health care solutions review how their respective professions can work together. Discussions will focus on various topics like public health, regulations, interprofessional practice, and implementation strategies for OTC hearing aids.
Keynote speaker, Kelly King, an audiologist and program officer at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, will share insights from the National Institutes of Health. The University of Pittsburgh has been an early proponent of OTC hearing aid education. They offer an online interprofessional course developed by experts in pharmacy and audiology like Lucas Berenbrok and Elaine Mormer. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) holds an exclusive license agreement to offer the Pharmacy-Based OTC Hearing Aids training program developed by the University of Pittsburgh.
Interested individuals can now register for the symposium, and both pharmacist and audiologist continuing education (CE) credits will be available. For more information, reach out to otchearingaids[at]pitt.edu.
The symposium aims to address one of the most significant challenges facing people with hearing loss: accessibility to healthcare solutions that are affordable and accessible over-the-counter (OTC). This is particularly important because many people with mild to moderate hearing loss may not be aware that they have a condition or may not know where to turn for help.
The FDA’s introduction of new categories of OTC hearing aids is just one way that we are working towards making it easier for people with hearing loss to get access to care they need.
During the symposium, experts from different fields such as pharmacy and audiology will come together to discuss best practices for promoting safe and effective use of these products.
They will also talk about regulations around these products and how interprofessional practice can help ensure patients receive high-quality care.
Finally, keynote speaker Kelly King from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders will share insights from her work at NIH.
Overall, this symposium is an important opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about how we can improve accessibility for people with mild to moderate hearing loss through OTC solutions.