Listen up: Cheaper, sleeker over-the-counter hearing aids are on the way

Millions of Americans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss may soon be able to buy high-quality — and cheaper — hearing aids at their local drugstore.

That's because the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued long-awaited draft rules for selling such devices over the counter, which the agency calls "sound amplification" products. Now that the proposed rules are out, it could take about a year for new hearing aids to hit the market, according to experts.

"The new regulatory category will provide the public with greater control over their hearing aid purchasing decisions at stores nationwide or online without the need for a professional hearing exam, fitting adjustment or a prescription," Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement.