Latest
Category 2 Hurricane Isaias nears landfall, leading to production shut-insRace for crucial midterms attracting vast sums of money on both sides | First ThingTrump calls for data center ‘dividends’ in bid to win over midterm voters – US politics liveOpenAI Invests in Startup That Uses Brain Implants to Detect CancerRussia releases imprisoned U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard following Trump's request‘What are you implying?’: El-Sayed confronts critics head-on as attacks ramp up‘Hunted like animals’: inside Trump’s war on the people who build AmericaCategory 2 Hurricane Isaias nears landfall, leading to production shut-insRace for crucial midterms attracting vast sums of money on both sides | First ThingTrump calls for data center ‘dividends’ in bid to win over midterm voters – US politics liveOpenAI Invests in Startup That Uses Brain Implants to Detect CancerRussia releases imprisoned U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard following Trump's request‘What are you implying?’: El-Sayed confronts critics head-on as attacks ramp up‘Hunted like animals’: inside Trump’s war on the people who build America
← Signal: Tech & AI

Hearing Aid Market Expands With Over-the-Counter Options; Jabra Enhance Select 300 Leads Field

Confirmed1 source · Oct 21, 2026

Four years of testing 45+ models shows affordable OTC hearing aids now rival prescription devices for mild to moderate hearing loss, with prices ranging from $100 to $4,000.

Hearing Aid Market Expands With Over-the-Counter Options; Jabra Enhance Select 300 Leads Field
Image via Wired

What happened

Wired tested more than 45 hearing aid models over four years, including prescription and over-the-counter devices, across home, outdoor, and noisy environments. The Jabra Enhance Select 300 ranked as the top performer, with the Sony CRE-C20 as a close second and Apple's AirPods Pro 3 highlighted as the most accessible entry point. Recent updates as of February 2026 added the Oticon Zeal, Phonak Audeo Infinio Ultra Sphere, and Jabra Enhance Select 50R to the reviewed lineup.

Context

The FDA approved over-the-counter hearing aids in 2022, fundamentally shifting consumer access away from expensive, doctor-prescribed devices. With an estimated 10 million Americans under 60 affected by hearing loss, the market now offers diverse styles—behind-the-ear, receiver-in-the-ear, and in-the-ear formats—at varying price points and with different fitting approaches (self-fitted via app versus preset). This expansion addresses both cost barriers and stigma concerns, as modern designs have become less visible than traditional bulk devices. The ability to trial devices for free and access affordable options potentially removes long-standing obstacles to treatment.