Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: A Lost Decade for Change
Table 1
Summary of the characteristics of the ten OTC hearing aids.
Models
Style
Cost ($US)
Country of manufacturer
Volume range
Special features
Operation manual
Technical specification
Battery
A
LingYin HA 611B
BW
41
China
1–5
2 tone controls (N; H)
Yes (Chinese)
Yes
AAA
B
Hopewell HAP-40
BW
22
Unknown
No marking
—
Yes (English and Spanish)
No
AAA
C
Axwa EX-12D
BW
49
China
1–8
3 tone controls (N; H; L)
Yes (English)
Yes
AA
D
JNC-MHA-BTE130
BTE
47
Korea
1–3
—
Yes (Chinese and English)
Yes
675
E
UP-6411
BTE
52
Japan#
1–6
—
Yes (English)
Yes
675
F
ShengDe V-163
BTE
51
China
1–4
—
Yes (Chinese)
Yes
675
G
Axwa OM-188
BTE
55
China
1–4
—
Yes (English)
Yes
675
H
Powertone HAP-F883
ITE
114
Unknown
1–5
—
Yes (English)
Yes
13
I
JNC-MHA-ITE 110
ITE
47
Korea
No marking
—
Yes (Chinese and English)
Yes
312
J
Axon K-80
ITE
37
Unknown
No marking
—
Yes (English)
Yes
312
Note. #: no information of manufacturer is printed on packaging, but the salesperson claimed that it was a Japanese brand; BW: body-worn; BTE: behind-the-ear; ITE: in-the-ear; N: normal; H: high; L: low; technical specification: manufacturer’s information on electroacoustic characteristics of the hearing aid.
