Here’s a fun fact for your next holiday get together: The Catholic church is a leading force in space exploration. How? The church funds a massive space telescope in the middle of the Arizona desert. Researchers have used it to make countless discoveries and better understand the universe. But why is it in Arizona?
You can buy hearing aids over the counter - Should you?
Photo © Zay Nyi Nyi | Dreamstime.com
Life just got a little bit easier for people with hearing loss. Previously, you had to rely on a licensed physician to get hearing aids, which involved medical or audiological examinations. However, a new rule enables you to buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids as easily as a nasal spray or reading glasses.
You can thank Congress for passing the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017. This August, the FDA finalized this historic ruling, which means millions of Americans can get hearing aids more easily. No longer will you have to jump through hoops or come up with creative solutions, like turning your AirPods into makeshift hearing aids.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know. First, we’ll go into more detail about the ruling. Then, we’ll tell you how to get OTC hearing aids and the complications you need to know about.
Here’s the backstory
As of Oct. 17, 2022, American retailers began selling over-the-counter hearing aids. So if you have mild to moderate hearing issues, you no longer need to visit the doctor, get a prescription or schedule a fitting appointment with a hearing specialist. This could help 90% of the population with hearing loss.
Many health experts say this is a step towards a more accessible and affordable future for people who need hearing aids. Data from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reveals how beneficial this new law could be.
The institute found that 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids. However, only 16% of people with hearing loss use a device that helps them hear.
This may be because they’re so expensive. A 2020 study from JAMA, a medical journal, found that many people had to spend at least $4,000 out of pocket for hearing aids in both ears.
This could all change now. Although you shouldn’t get too excited since most Medicare plans won’t pay for your hearing aids, this law has emboldened tech companies to sell more affordable devices that help you hear.
How to get OTC hearing aids
You can now buy direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing aids from online manufacturers like Eargo, Lexie, Audien and Audicus.
Here are a few examples. You can grab them now on Amazon:
40% off sale! The home security system you can set up yourself in 30 minutes
Think of the words “home security” and what comes to mind? An installation crew, pushy salespeople, an expensive monthly bill and, of course, shelling out a ton of money to get the whole thing set up.
Good news: It doesn’t have to be that way. With our sponsor, SimpliSafe, you can protect your entire home, around the clock, without busting your budget or even pulling out a drill. Install it all yourself in minutes, then it just works. And the best part is, right now, Kim’s listeners can get a SimpliSafe system for a whopping 40%. This deal won’t last long. Tap or click here to shop!
Get 40% off home security tech, like video doorbells, outdoor cameras and window sensors
Credit: SimpliSafe.com
Now is the best time to protect your home with tech. Thanks to a home security sale from our sponsor SimpliSafe, you can get steep discounts on everything you need to stay secure. Grab motion sensors, security cameras, burglary alarms and more.
Warn the kids in your family: Sex predators are stalking this site
The internet is scary and filled with dangers everywhere. Even adults can fall victim to scams or mistakenly infect their devices with malware. Think about how much worse things are for children. There are ways to see who they’re talking to and what they’re looking at, but they can’t catch everything.
Historic weapons that were complete failures
War has been a constant throughout human history. In some cases, war led to ingenious innovation — and other times, it led to abject failure. In this video, go back in time to see weapons once lauded as the next game-changers. In reality, they were never used in combat or failed once deployed.
Why the US Army's camouflage was a big mistake
Camouflage has been part of military strategy for millennia. It allows soldiers to hide in plain sight and attack without being seen. But a little over 20 years ago, the U.S. changed its military camouflage and everyone realized pretty quickly that it was a big mistake.
Spider eyes are more powerful than you think
Spiders are some of the smallest invertebrates on Earth, but these tiny creatures have a remarkable skill. They can see better than most animals 10 times their size. The trick is that their eyes are tiny little telescopes that allow them to focus on things in extraordinary detail. Some scientists even claim spiders can see the details of the moon. The real question is, why do they need to be able to do this?
What causes sleepwalking?
Most of us know someone or are someone who occasionally gets up in the middle of the night while they are sleeping and walks around the house or does something strange. This is called sleepwalking, and around 4% of US adults have reported this happening to them. But why does this happen, and what can we do to prevent it?
Can you build a skyscraper out of wood?
The modern skyscraper is one of the most extraordinary feats of human engineering. These cloud piercers have been built with steel since the beginning of the 20th century, but now some creative builders are starting to think outside the box. What if you made one completely out of wood? Is it possible? The answer is yes, and they are already being built.
Why cruise ships virtually never sink
During the heyday of sea travel, it was fairly common for ships to be lost at sea. Ships were vulnerable to the elements, and there are certainly a lot of dangers on the open water: A freak wave, a massive storm or even an iceberg. Now we have enormous cruise ships and it’s extremely rare to hear of one sinking. What makes these floating cities so unsinkable?
What does the world's largest machine do?
When you think of large machines, you probably picture a massive tractor or maybe an enormous science experiment. Think bigger — much, much bigger. How about the size of the entire United States? The world’s largest machine is actually the U.S. power grid and how it became one giant machine is an amazing story.
What is the smallest thing in the universe?
The universe is massive, filled with hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars 100 times larger than the sun. But what if we looked down instead of looking up? There are entire worlds all around us that we can’t see. The smaller we get, the crazier these worlds are. How small can we get, and what does the world look like from that perspective?
What exactly is terminal velocity?
We have all heard the old tale that if you throw a penny off the Empire State Building, it will drop so fast that it could kill someone on the street below. Is that true? Some people put it to the test. Check out what happens when pennies are dropped onto someone from a helicopter way up high.
The shocking complexity of concert tours
Who doesn’t love a good concert? The blaring music, the beautiful lights and the singing crowd. But the process of getting the band set up, the stage ready and the venue prepared is incredibly complicated. Dozens of man hours go into getting a show ready. If a band is big enough, they have a well-oiled machine to get it done.
The surprising way microchips are made
Almost every tech gadget we use in our daily lives has some sort of microchip inside it. TVs, thermostats and even toasters rely on microchips to work efficiently. Microchips are made using sand, but how do we go from a pile of grains to a tiny little computer? The answer? With a ton of work.
What a room looks like on a space hotel
The year is 2040 and you’ve just come into a huge amount of money. You know exactly what you want to do with it: Stay in the first-ever space hotel. You shell out the cash, get on a rocket and arrive at the hotel. You get to your room and open the door. What do you see? Well, it’s not your typical hotel room, that’s for sure.
Here are the top 10 skills you need to land a job now
Employers must provide health insurance for full-time workers depending on the company’s size. Did you know that some employers extend coverage to part-time workers, too? Tap or click here for 10 employers offering health insurance for people working less than 30 hours per week.
3 things to look for in smart sprinklers - and our favorite choices for your yard
Smart home technology lets you control your home’s security, temperature, lighting, and more from your phone or voice. Virtual assistants can set the mood in your living room or lock the doors when you leave.
When it comes to security, you don’t want to mess around. You want to ensure you get the best setup for your home to keep you and your family safe. Tap or click here for five things to look for in a security camera.
Headphones vs. earbuds vs. speakers: what's the best sound solution for your WFH office?
You’re at your desk for half the day, and answering emails isn’t exactly riveting. It’s time to turn some tunes on while you work, but what do you reach for? Earbuds, headphones or your speaker knob?
There’s a catch here, folks. People have different preferences when it comes to audio. We’ll help you determine what works best for you to pick the perfect solution to your work from home (WFH) audio needs.