TL;DR
Get workout gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Ontario says it will pursue legislative changes allowing adults to buy and use Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription. The changes are expected in the province’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement; until they take effect, Ontario’s prescription requirement remains. The proposal could also allow Apple’s approved AirPods Pro hearing features to be activated in Ontario, but the timing and safeguards are not yet settled.
Ontario plans to change its laws so adults can buy Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription, the provincial government announced Tuesday. The proposed change, expected in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement, would remove a provincial barrier to non-prescription devices and could allow Apple’s approved AirPods Pro hearing features to operate in Ontario once the rules take effect.
Under current Ontario law, hearing aids can be sold only with a prescription from a physician or audiologist. The government says it will advance legislative changes allowing the sale and use of approved OTC hearing aids. The change is intended for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss; it does not mean every consumer audio device will qualify or that the rules have already changed.
The Hearing Review reports that the proposal is expected to be included in Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, scheduled for release on or before Nov. 15. The province has not yet put the new framework into effect. Until legislation and any related regulations take effect, the existing prescription requirement remains in force.
Ontario says the proposal would not replace the prescription system or alter the province’s Assistive Devices Program. That program currently covers up to 75% of the cost of prescribed hearing aids, to a maximum of $500 per aid. According to the source report, the program does not cover future non-prescription OTC devices.
Access Beyond the Clinic
Changing the prescription rule could give some adults another route to hearing support, particularly people who face cost, travel or appointment barriers. The extent of that effect will depend on which devices qualify, their prices and how the province sets consumer protections. The government has said the proposal does not set device prices.
The change may also affect consumer technology. Health Canada approved Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature and Hearing Test Feature in 2025 for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, but Ontario’s prescription rule has kept those features inactive in the province, according to The Hearing Review. If Ontario updates its legal framework, AirPods Pro 2 and 3 owners may be able to use the features, subject to the final rules and product availability. The proposal does not itself confirm an activation date.
Products Worth Considering
Philips Sonicare 5950 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush with 2 Brush Heads, Pink
Withings BPM Vision Blood Pressure Monitor with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Withings Body Smart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Body Composition Scale
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Ontario’s Prescription Rules
The planned legislation follows a 30-day public consultation launched in April 2026. The source report says the province described the feedback as showing overwhelming support, but does not provide a numerical breakdown of responses. Ontario is advancing the proposal through its Health Innovation Pathway, an initiative intended to support health innovation.
The debate reflects a distinction between federal device approval and provincial rules governing sale and use. Health Canada approval of a device or feature does not by itself remove Ontario’s prescription requirement. The planned provincial changes are intended to address that separate legal barrier.
Ontario’s approach is not a replacement for professional hearing care. The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario supports expanded access for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss if public safeguards are in place. The Ontario Association of Professional Audiology has also expressed support for access while warning against users mistaking symptoms that need medical assessment for ordinary hearing loss.
“By making life-changing technologies like over-the-counter hearing aids more accessible, we’re giving Ontarians more choice and flexibility to get the hearing support they need, when and where they need it.”
— Sylvia Jones, Ontario deputy premier and minister of health
Rules and Safeguards Pending
The announcement does not specify the exact wording of the legislation, the safeguards that will apply, or when devices could be sold under the new rules. The government has not provided details here on how eligibility, labelling, follow-up advice or consumer complaints would be handled. The source report also does not give the consultation response count or its methodology.
It is also not yet clear when Apple could activate its hearing features in Ontario. That depends on the province’s legal changes taking effect and any applicable requirements being met. OTC devices are not appropriate for everyone: the audiology college says children and people with symptoms or underlying conditions requiring assessment should seek care from a regulated professional.
Fall Statement Sets the Next Milestone
The next stated milestone is Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, expected on or before Nov. 15. The government is expected to formalize its proposed legislative changes there. Details about implementation and any regulations or safeguards will be needed to establish when eligible adults can purchase OTC devices under the new framework.
Until those changes take effect, Ontarians remain subject to the current prescription rule. Consumers considering hearing aids should not treat the announcement as immediate authorization to buy or use non-prescription devices in the province, and people with concerning symptoms should seek assessment from a health professional.
Key Questions
Can Ontarians buy OTC hearing aids without a prescription now?
No. The government has announced plans to change the law, but the current prescription requirement remains until the legislation and any related rules take effect.
Who would be eligible under the proposal?
The proposal is aimed at adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The final legislation and safeguards have not yet been detailed.
Will Apple AirPods Pro hearing features become available in Ontario?
They could become available after Ontario changes its rules, according to The Hearing Review. The announcement does not confirm an activation date or spell out the final requirements.
Will the proposal change Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program?
The government says the proposal will not affect the existing program. The source report says it currently covers up to 75% of prescribed hearing-aid costs, to a maximum of $500 per aid, and does not cover future OTC devices.
Should everyone with hearing trouble use an OTC device?
No. The audiology college says OTC hearing aids are not appropriate for children or people with symptoms or medical conditions needing assessment. Professional evaluation can help identify whether hearing changes require medical care.
Source: hearingreview.com
