Ontario will make over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids available in the province for people with mild hearing loss. The province plans to make the legislative change in the fall economic update later this year, enabling these devices for use in the province.
The move should open up access to more affordable hearing aid options, as well as to solutions that use wireless earbuds as hearing aids — for example, Apple’s AirPods Pro (though it’s not yet clear when Apple will make the feature available to Ontarians).
Health Minister Sylvia Jones says that the change will give more Ontarians the flexibility to get the support they need.
Health Canada has previously given medical device licences for wireless earbuds with built-in hearing aid capabilities. However, provincial laws have so far prevented this, only allowing for hearing aids prescribed by a doctor or audiologist. The change will allow earbuds with built-in hearing aid capabilities to turn on this feature.
The Ontario government says this update will not replace or impact existing hearing aid prescriptions and coverage.
In June, B.C. allowed adults 18 years and older with mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase OTC hearing aids without a prescription.
Header image credit: Shutterstock
Source: Ontario
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