Hearing Aid Prices Under Pressure From Consumer Electronics - The New York Times

Another case study in the consequences of "industry concentration and overregulation"

"Hearing is just one realm in which new technology is clashing with traditional medical practice and regulations. There have been debates over genetic tests ordered by consumers rather than doctors, and over medical diagnoses using smartphone apps.
Just this month, the American Optometric Association complained to the F.D.A. about Opternative, a start-up that offers eyeglass prescriptions based on a self-administered online test, without the need to visit an eye doctor.
But the opportunity in hearing aids appears particularly striking. Nearly 30 million Americans, including two-thirds of those over 70, are said to have hearing loss. But only 15 to 30 percent of those who could benefit from hearing aids use them."

Hearing Aid Prices Under Pressure From Consumer Electronics - The New York Times