The Washington
State Academy of Audiology (WSAA), Washington Speech-Language Hearing
Association (WSLHA), Washington Hearing Society (WHS) and the Northwest Academy
of Otolaryngology (NWAO) have joined forces to help inform Washington
Growing concern over the
unlicensed sale of hearing aids over the counter or through the mail, often
without warning consumers, has prompted Washington 's
hearing health organizations to issue the public statement.
Unlike personal amplifiers,
which are not intended to treat hearing loss, hearing aids are medical devices
and are therefore subject to state and federal regulations in order to protect
consumers. Washington , like most states,
requires that hearing aids be evaluated and fit by a licensed professional.
Professionals licensed to dispense hearing aids include: Audiologists, Hearing
Instrument Specialists and Otolaryngologists (ENT physicians).
All four Washington
hearing-health organizations hold serious health and safety concerns about the
sale of hearing aids without examination and guidance by licensed
professionals. They strongly encourage the estimated 700,000 people with
hearing loss in the state of Washington and their families, to seek the advice
of a state licensed professional, to ensure they are receiving the most
appropriate care.
