The National Grange submitted this comment to the FDA on the OTC Hearing Aid Rule.
The following statement is of particular relevance:
It would be a double tragedy if adults with impaired hearing were to suffer more damage because safety regulations were not in place. We have real concern that reliance solely upon the hearing aid user to determine whether the volume (output and gain) is at a safe level will not adequately protect them. For many reasons from mobility issues to distractions or situational difficulties that could arise, hearing aid users might be unable to remove devices quickly enough to prevent damage were the volume to be excessive.
