People who have trouble hearing clearly in certain environments have a new option to help them.

Products like Apple Airpods can function as over the counter hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, according to Michael Sharp, a doctor of audiology who owns ASI Beltone, which has offices in Fort Dodge and Humboldt.

He compared the earbuds to the non-prescription reading glasses available in stores.

“They are meant for people who have a hearing problem in a very small portion of their hearing day or hearing week,” he said.

Just like people who have a lot of problems with their vision should replace their store-bought readers with prescription eyeglasses, those who have a lot of trouble hearing should stop using the earbuds and start using professionally fitted hearing aids, he said.

How often a person experiences difficulty hearing is the determining factor, according to Sharp. If the hearing loss is only noticed occasionally, an over the counter hearing aid can be the perfect solution, he said. But if the hearing loss is experienced frequently, the professionally fitted hearing aids are needed, he said.

Sharp encourages anyone with concerns about their hearing to get a full hearing test. The test results, he said, will enable providers to look for changes in hearing over time. The test results will also help to determine if the individual is suffering hearing loss due to a medical issue. When medical issues are suspected, people should be referred to an ear, nose and throat physician, he said

In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration established the category of over the counter hearing aids. The earbuds fit into that category.

Sharp said they are good for people who have trouble hearing in specific situations, such as a crowded room.

“You pop them in to get through that scenario,” he said.

He said the earbuds can’t be used all day because their batteries only last for about four hours.

Users of earbuds as hearing aids will have limited support, he said.

“The only means of support you have is the app on your phone,” he said.

He encourages people looking for earbuds to use as over the counter hearing aids to stick with well-known brands like Apple, Phillips and Sony. Little-known brands that only seem to be advertised on social media should be avoided, he said.

“If it pops up on your social media and you’ve never heard of it, that’s one to avoid,” he said.