OTC hearing aids - Most are not true hearing aids but rather belong to a category known as a personal sound amplification product (PSAP). Dozens of these devices sold as "hearing amplifiers" or "sound enhancers" are listed on Amazon. Most of the cheaper ones simply make every sound louder, but several are being touted as true hearing aids.
Direct-to-consumer hearing aid brands available online and marketed to people with mild to medium hearing loss. e.g. Eargo, Embrace
PSAP = Personal Sound Amplification Products (with Bluetooth capabilities to allow connection to smart devices for phone calls and audio streaming), (not a hearing aid or a medical device) - e.g. Nuheara, Doppler, Bragi, Earin, Truebuds
Price per pair: US$600-US$1000-US$5000 - (i.e. Less than about half the price of hearing aids provided by professionals.) - Not entirely covered by either public or private health insurance.
Bose sells a product called Hearphones, described as "conversation-enhancing, noise-cancelling headphones." Sold online, the earbuds are attached to a neckband and can be controlled by an app.
The VoiceBuds are, effectively, hearing aids. They use dual microphones to actively block out sounds that aren't voices while enhancing speech. They use 10-band voice reduction, 12-band speech boosting, and multi-channel compression to reduce the effects of sudden loud noises transmitted through them. Bluetooth connectivity to a companion app for Android and iPhone lets users switch between four hearing modes based on environments like noisy rooms, cars, and outdoors, as well as adjust volume without physically touching the VoiceBuds.
Audiologist - Of all the types of hearing professionals, an audiologist has the highest credentials to identify, assess, and treat hearing disorders and provide comprehensive hearing care. A licensed audiologist has at least a master's degree in audiology.
Around 15 percent of the world's population suffers from tinnitus, a condition which causes someone to hear a sound (such as ringing or buzzing) without any external source. It's often associated with hearing loss.
High blood pressure, Abnormal cholesterol levels, Smoking,
Diabetes, Being overweight, Iron-deficiency anemia, Aspirin and other medications, Heavy-metal contaminants, Sinus infections, Abrupt changes in pressure
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