Abstract
In recent years, pharmacies have entered the over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid market,
providing an accessible alternative for individuals with hearing loss. This shift
is driven by several key factors, including the limited availability of audiologists
in many areas, particularly in rural or underserved regions. High-cost hearing aids
can be a significant barrier for lower-income households. With the rising demand for
affordable hearing solutions, pharmacies have emerged as a viable option for offering
these devices, often at a fraction of the cost of traditional audiology services.
By expanding access to hearing aids, pharmacies aim to address both the scarcity of
specialized care and the financial constraints faced by many patients, making hearing
health more attainable for a broader population. This article highlights how rural
and elderly populations are often underserved in healthcare, with an emphasis on specialty
services like audiology. It will demonstrate how a pharmacy recognized a disparity
in the market and took action toward providing expanded patient care, unique to the
usual pharmacy services we all know.
Keywords
OTC hearing aids - community health worker - expanded patient care
