Regulatory Information | 33
Required Hearing Aid Information
The following additional information is provided in compliance with U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations:
WARNING TO HEARING AID DISPENSERS:
A hearing aid dispenser should advise a prospective hearing aid user to
consult promptly with a licensed physician (preferably an ear specialist) before
dispensing a hearing aid if the hearing aid dispenser determines through inquiry,
actual observation or review of any other available information concerning the
prospective user that the prospective user has any of the following conditions:
i. Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.
ii. History of active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days.
iii. History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing
loss within the previous 90 days.
iv. Acute or chronic dizziness.
v. Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the previous 90
days.
vi. Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than
15 decibels at 500 Hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz.
vii. Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in
the ear canal.
viii. Pain or discomfort in the ear.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PROSPECTIVE
HEARING AID USERS:
Good health practice requires that a person with a hearing loss have a medical
evaluation by a licensed physician (preferably a physician who specializes
in diseases of the ear) before purchasing a hearing aid. Licensed physicians
who specialize in diseases of the ear are often referred to as otolaryngologists,
otologists or otorhynolaringologists. The purpose of the medical evaluation
is to assure that all medically treatable conditions that may affect hearing are
identified and treated before the hearing aid is purchased.
Following the medical evaluation, the physician will give you a written statement
that states that your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that you may
be considered a candidate for a hearing aid. The physician will refer you to an
audiologist or hearing aid dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing aid evaluation.
