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Ontario says it will pursue legislative changes allowing adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to buy Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription. The proposal is expected in the province’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement; details of the final rules and safeguards have not yet been released.
Ontario plans to allow adults to buy and use Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription, the provincial government announced Tuesday. The proposed change would alter a rule that currently requires a physician’s or audiologist’s prescription and could also clear a regulatory barrier to hearing-assistance features in some consumer earbuds.
The government expects to formalize the change in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement, scheduled for release on or before Nov. 15. The announcement sets out the province’s intention to change its legislation and regulations; the final legal language and implementation date have not yet been provided.
Ontario says the planned access is for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and would apply to devices approved by Health Canada. Under current provincial rules, hearing aids may be sold only with a prescription from a physician or audiologist. The proposed change would allow eligible consumers to obtain approved devices without that prescription requirement.
The government says the proposal would complement, not replace the existing prescription system. It also says funding through the Assistive Devices Program will not change. That program currently covers up to 75% of the cost of prescribed hearing aids, to a maximum of $500 per aid; the province says it does not cover future non-prescription OTC devices.
A New Route to Hearing Support
Removing the prescription requirement could give some adults a faster and more convenient way to access hearing support, particularly people who face barriers to appointments or professional services. It could also expand consumer choice by making approved non-prescription devices available through retail channels, though the province has not yet detailed where or how such devices would be sold.
The change may have implications for consumer electronics features. The Hearing Review reports that Apple’s Hearing Aid and Hearing Test features for AirPods Pro 2 and 3 received Health Canada approval in 2025 but remain inactive for Ontario users under the current provincial prescription rule. If the law changes as planned, those features could become available in Ontario. The government has not announced a launch date for Apple’s features, and access would depend on the final rules and any relevant product conditions.
Expanded access also brings questions about appropriate use. A self-directed purchase may not identify an underlying cause of hearing problems that needs medical attention. That is why professional groups have supported access for adults with mild to moderate perceived loss while calling for consumer safeguards and clear guidance.
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Ontario’s Prescription Rule
Ontario’s current requirement has limited sales of hearing aids without a prescription, even as federal authorization and product development have made OTC options more available. The government says its proposed amendments would remove legislative and regulatory barriers to devices approved by Health Canada. The announcement follows a 30-day public consultation launched in April 2026; the source report says responses showed strong support, but provides no response count or breakdown.
The announcement also follows federal approval in 2025 of Apple’s Hearing Aid and Hearing Test features for AirPods Pro 2 and 3, according to The Hearing Review. Federal approval does not, by itself, remove Ontario’s separate provincial restrictions. The source report notes that similar hearing-assistance functions are available in other markets, but the Ontario proposal concerns provincial access rules and does not establish a province-wide launch date for any particular product.
“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 Still Pending
The announcement does not include the final legislative text, a specific date when the rules would take effect, or details on how approved devices will be sold and labelled. The province has not set out what safeguards, screening information or referral guidance consumers would receive.
It is also not yet clear whether the changes will enable particular software features on a defined date. Apple’s functions are a possible beneficiary of the proposed change, but the government has not confirmed an activation schedule or stated how the final framework will apply to individual products. The consultation’s reported support is described without figures, so the number and range of respondents are unknown.
Professional groups have warned that hearing difficulties can have causes requiring assessment. The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario says OTC devices are not appropriate for children or for people with symptoms or underlying conditions that need assessment by a regulated hearing professional. The final rules and public guidance will determine how those cautions are communicated.
Fall Statement Sets the Next Step
The next formal milestone is Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, expected on or before Nov. 15, where the government plans to include the legislative changes. The statement or subsequent regulations should clarify the scope of eligibility, when the new rules begin and what protections apply to consumers.
Until those details are published and the changes take effect, Ontario’s existing prescription requirement remains the applicable rule. The government has not announced a separate timeline for retailers or technology companies to make OTC devices or hearing-assistance features available under the proposed framework.
Key Questions
Who would be able to buy over-the-counter hearing aids in Ontario?
The proposal is aimed at adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and covers devices approved by Health Canada. Final eligibility rules have not yet been published.
When would the rule change take effect?
Ontario expects to include legislative changes in its 2026 Fall Economic Statement, due on or before Nov. 15. The government has not announced the effective date.
Would the change affect the Assistive Devices Program?
The government says the proposal will not change existing program funding. The program currently covers up to 75% of prescribed hearing-aid costs, to a maximum of $500 per aid, and does not cover future OTC devices.
Could AirPods Pro hearing features become available in Ontario?
They could become available if the provincial rules change, because the current prescription requirement has kept the features inactive for Ontario users, according to The Hearing Review. No activation date has been confirmed.
Should people with hearing concerns skip a professional assessment?
No. Ontario’s audiology groups say OTC devices are not suitable for everyone, and some hearing symptoms may require assessment. The proposal changes access rules; it does not establish that self-assessment is appropriate for every person.
Source: hearingreview.com
