BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Nearly 30 million adults living in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

It's one of the many reasons why the FDA created a new category in 2022 for hearing aids that can be purchased over-the-counter back.


What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 30 million adults living in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Food and Drug Administration

  • Brandon Horndasch put on a pair of headphones about a year ago to take a demo hearing test. He didn’t pass and realized he suffered from hearing loss

  • After the approval of over-the-counter hearing aids by the FDA in 2022, Wisconsin Vision said they wanted to create broader access to hearing tests

  • Wisconsin Vision partnered with MD Hearing to offer free screenings and referrals to over-the-counter hearing aids. The tests they offer are for clients who have mild hearing loss

This decision prompted Wisconsin Vision to look into expanding what they offer and how to make hearing aids more accessible to customers. 

Brandon Horndasch put on a pair of headphones about a year ago to take a demo hearing test. He didn’t pass and realized he had hearing loss.

Brandon owns multiple vision locations in Illinois. His dad, Darren Horndasch, is the president and CEO of Wisconsin Vision. 

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

He said they both detected Brandon’s hearing loss while they were demonstrating their new hearing tests at their locations.

Since then, Brandon has been using hearing aids and said it changed his life for the better.

“It’s been a game changer for me,” Brandon Horndasch said. “You can’t even tell I’m wearing anything, but I can hear everything.”

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

After the approval of over-the-counter hearing aids by the FDA in 2022, Wisconsin Vision said they wanted to create broader access to hearing tests.

It’s why they partnered with MD Hearing to offer free screenings and referrals to over-the-counter hearing aids. The tests they offer are for clients who have mild hearing loss.

“We’ve already done over 1,400 screenings, 20 plus patients have purchased hearing aids from MD Hearing,” Darren Horndasch said. “So, it’s been a sort of synergistic partnership. We are all working around the same space.”

Darren Horndasch said starting in January all Wisconsin Vision locations will offer free hearing screenings for customers.