Bridging the Hearing Divide: Policy Solutions for Aging Americans.

ABSTRACT: Hearing loss affects approximately two thirds of adults in the United States aged 70 years or older and frequently remains untreated despite its well-documented harms, including accelerated cognitive decline, increased caregiver burden, and higher health care expenditures. We examine the major barriers to accessing high-quality hearing care, with particular attention to the complex and fragmented landscape of insurance coverage across Medicare, Medicaid, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, private plans, and over-the-counter (OTC) products. We review key legislative and regulatory developments over the past decade, most notably the 2022 establishment of OTC hearing aids, and summarize early opportunities and remaining gaps. We then propose targeted reforms to improve access and affordab

SUBMITTER: Swamy MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12662708 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature