Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
What OTC Hearing Aids Can and Cannot Do
Since 2022, adults shopping for over-the-counter hearing aids in Apple Valley, CA have been able to buy them at pharmacies, big-box stores, and online without a prescription or hearing test. The FDA created the category for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and most are set up through a phone app. What they can't do is measure your hearing loss or catch a medical cause behind it.
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Owner & Doctor of Audiology
When a Prescription Hearing Aid Is the Better Choice
Prescription hearing aids at Optimum Audiology start with a comprehensive hearing evaluation, so the programming is based on your measured hearing instead of an app's estimate. They cover mild to profound loss, come in custom and rechargeable styles from all major manufacturers, and are verified in your ear with Real Ear Measurement. Eligible Veterans may also be able to use VA Community Care benefits.
Prescription vs. OTC: Common Questions
Straight answers about over-the-counter versus prescription hearing aids in Apple Valley, who each one is built for, and why a hearing test is a smart first step either way.
OTC hearing aids are self-fitted. You buy them without a hearing test and adjust them yourself, usually through an app, within a preset range meant for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. No one checks whether the sound reaching your eardrum actually matches what your ears need.
Prescription hearing aids are chosen and programmed by an audiologist from your hearing test results. At Optimum Audiology, every new pair is checked with Real Ear Measurement, and you get follow-up visits for adjustments as you get used to them. If testing shows more than a mild loss, or a different loss in each ear, prescription devices are usually the better fit.
The FDA's OTC category covers adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The key word is perceived: it's based on how you think you hear, not on a test. Many adults who assume their loss is mild learn during testing that it's more significant, different between ears, or tied to a medical issue.
OTC devices aren't meant for children, sudden or quickly worsening hearing loss, hearing loss in only one ear, ear pain or drainage, or severe hearing loss. A hearing evaluation is the most reliable way to know where you stand. HMO plans need a doctor's referral first. Call or text (760) 503-1700 to schedule one in Apple Valley, Jess Ranch, La Verne, or Visalia.
It isn't required, but it's a smart move. A comprehensive hearing evaluation in our sound booth shows the type and degree of hearing loss in each ear and how well you understand speech. Without that information, picking a pharmacy hearing aid off the shelf is mostly guesswork.
Testing can also turn up problems that no hearing aid will help, such as earwax blocking the canal, a middle ear issue, or a sudden change that needs prompt medical attention. When that happens, we coordinate with your physician or an ENT so you get the right care. The visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and you'll go over your results before you leave. Call or text (760) 503-1700 to book.
Yes, we'll tell you honestly. If your test shows a mild hearing loss that's similar in both ears and an OTC device seems like a reasonable place to start, Dr. Mendoza will say so and explain what to expect from one. The point of the visit is to understand your hearing, and you're under no pressure to buy anything.
If prescription hearing aids would serve you better, you'll hear why in plain terms: programming verified in your own ear, a style matched to your ears and hands, and follow-up care as you adjust. Either way, you leave knowing your results and your options. Call or text (760) 503-1700 to book.
Hearing Aids Tuned to Your Ears, Not a Factory
Hearing aids only help if they're set for your ears, not generic factory settings. That's why every new fitting at Optimum Audiology includes Real Ear Measurement, a quick test with a tiny microphone that confirms the sound reaching your eardrum matches your hearing loss. We check again at every annual visit, see you for follow-ups in the first month, and most purchases include a trial period so you can hear the difference at home.
Patient Reviews
What patients across the High Desert, Visalia, and La Verne say about their care with Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Expert Hearing Care From the High Desert to Visalia
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has helped patients hear better since 1991, and every plan starts with a thorough hearing evaluation.
Serving Southern & Central California
Four Offices, One Number
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., and her team see patients in Apple Valley, Jess Ranch, La Verne, and Visalia. Choose the office closest to you on the map.
- Call or text: (760) 503-1700
- info@optimumaudiology.com
- Doctor of Audiology since 1991
- Real Ear Measurement on every fitting
- VA Community Care & OWCP provider
Optimum Audiology is a great place to go to for my hearing aids. Friendly staff and very helpful. They take care of everything from insurance, to keeping your hearing aids properly working. Thanks for doing a great job for me Optimum Audiology.— Anthony A.
Select a location for more information