You may have heard that President Biden recently signed an Executive Order regarding “Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids”. Why was this necessary? Don’t we already have OTC hearing aids? This is the first of two articles that will discuss this confusing issue. Unregulated amplifiers have been sold for many years. True hearing aids are classified as medical devices, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provided/adjusted by licensed professionals. Unregulated amplifiers must be labeled “Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs)”, and the quality varies greatly. Some are essentially like turning…