The Healthcare Equality Network (HEN)—a group advocating for equal, quality access to healthcare for Black Americans—recently wrote a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposing changes to the OTC Hearing Aid Rule, which can be viewed here.

The correspondence, signed by over 50 legislators and civil rights organizations, proposes a change to the volume levels on hearing devices recommended by the FDA—output limit of 120 dB and a gain limit of 25 dB—believing these levels may cause greater hearing damage. The letter also asks the FDA to include in their rule wording that encourages users to obtain a hearing test to confirm “the presence and degree of their hearing loss,” as well as wording specifically targeted to children under 18 to prevent from potential misuse.

To read the letter on the HEN website, please click here.

Source: HEN