America's $249 Hearing Aids Are Threatening a $12 Billion Industry — Here's How

A $249 pair of earbuds is now an FDA-authorized hearing aid, in a market where a prescription pair costs $2,500 to $6,000. Here is how over-the-counter hearing aids became legal in America, and what AirPods Pro can and cannot do for hearing loss. More than 30 million American adults report some hearing loss, but only about 1 in 6 people with hearing loss wears hearing aids. In this video we follow the story of the $249 hearing aid: why hearing aids cost so much, the five companies that control the market, the 2017 law that opened it up, and the limits of using earbuds as hearing aids. This video is for general information and is not medical advice. If you think you have hearing loss, talk to a doctor or audiologist. This channel is independent and is not affiliated with Apple or any company mentioned. Some visuals are illustrative and were created or edited with AI tools. Subscribe for more on the American technology changing everyday life. Subscribe for more on the American technology being built right now. ➡️   / @hiddensystems-u4u   #HearingAids #AirPodsPro #HearingLoss