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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; their final rules and timing are not yet confirmed. The proposal could also allow Apple’s federally approved AirPods Pro hearing features to operate in Ontario, subject to the new provincial framework.
Ontario’s government says it will change provincial rules so adults can buy and use Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription. The proposed changes are expected to appear in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement, and could enable hearing assistance features in some consumer devices, including Apple AirPods Pro, that are currently inactive in the province.
Under current Ontario law, hearing aids can be sold only with a prescription from a physician or audiologist, according to The Hearing Review. The planned change would remove that requirement for eligible over-the-counter devices, which are intended for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The government said Tuesday it would proceed with legislative changes covering the sale and use of devices approved by Health Canada.
The change may also affect Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature and Hearing Test Feature for AirPods Pro 2 and 3. Health Canada approved the features in 2025, but the report says they remain switched off in Ontario because of the province’s prescription requirement. If the provincial framework changes as planned, eligible users may be able to take a hearing test at home and use the earbuds’ hearing assistance functions. The exact availability and requirements will depend on the legislation and any related rules.
The government says the proposal would complement, not replace, the prescription system. It will not change the Assistive Devices Program, which currently covers up to 75% of the cost of prescribed hearing aids, to a maximum of $500 per aid. The report says the program does not cover future non-prescription OTC devices. A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the proposal removes barriers and “does not impact pricing for the devices.”
More Routes to Hearing Support
Removing the prescription requirement could give adults who suspect they have mild to moderate hearing loss another way to access hearing assistance, without first arranging a clinical appointment. The change may be particularly relevant to people who face cost, time or access barriers, though the report does not provide estimates of how many Ontarians would use OTC devices or what they would cost.
The proposal also highlights the growing overlap between consumer electronics and regulated hearing devices. Apple’s features have federal approval, but provincial law has so far prevented their use in Ontario. The province’s decision could alter access to those features, while leaving the details subject to the new legal framework. OTC devices are not a substitute for professional assessment in every case, and audiology groups have urged safeguards against missed medical conditions or incorrect self-assessment.
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Prescription Rules and Device Approval
The proposed policy concerns the provincial rules for selling and using OTC hearing aids; it does not itself grant federal approval to devices. The products covered would need to be approved by Health Canada. Ontario’s existing prescription requirement has also affected consumer-device features designed to provide hearing assistance, even where those features had federal authorization, according to The Hearing Review.
The report says the province launched a 30-day public consultation in April 2026 and described the responses as showing overwhelming support. Ontario is advancing the change through its Health Innovation Pathway. It has not yet published the final legislative text, so the consultation result does not establish what safeguards or eligibility rules will appear in the law.
“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
Final Rules Still Pending
The announcement describes a planned legislative change, not a rule already in force. The final wording, implementation date and safeguards remain unclear; the report says the changes are expected in the Fall Economic Statement, due on or before Nov. 15, but does not give a confirmed start date.
It is also not clear how the final framework will address screening, warnings, follow-up care or the range of devices covered. Apple’s AirPods Pro features are not yet available in Ontario under the current rules, and their activation will depend on the enacted changes and any applicable requirements. Audiology representatives have cautioned that hearing difficulties can have causes requiring professional assessment. OTC devices are not intended for children or for people with symptoms or underlying conditions that need clinical evaluation, according to CASLPO.
Fall Statement to Set Terms
The next key milestone is Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, expected on or before Nov. 15, where the government says the legislative changes are expected to be formalized. The legislation and any accompanying regulations should clarify which Health Canada-approved devices qualify, when sales and use can begin, and what consumer protections apply.
Until those details are released and the changes take effect, Ontario’s existing prescription requirement remains in place. Consumers, clinicians and device makers will be watching for the final rules, including whether and when Apple’s hearing features can be enabled for eligible users in the province.
Key Questions
Will Ontario residents be able to buy OTC hearing aids now?
Not yet. Ontario has announced plans to change the law, but the existing prescription requirement remains until the legislation takes effect.
Who would be eligible to use over-the-counter hearing aids?
The proposal is aimed at adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and Health Canada-approved devices. The final eligibility rules have not been released.
Will the change activate hearing features on Apple AirPods Pro?
It could allow Apple’s Hearing Aid and Hearing Test features to operate in Ontario, according to the report. Activation is not confirmed and depends on the final provincial rules and their implementation.
Will Ontario’s hearing aid funding program change?
The government says the proposed change will not affect the Assistive Devices Program. The program currently covers up to 75% of prescribed hearing aid costs, up to $500 per aid; the report says it does not cover OTC devices.
Should people with hearing problems still consult a professional?
Audiology groups say professional assessment matters, particularly when symptoms or medical conditions may need attention. OTC devices are not suitable for everyone, including children and people whose symptoms require clinical evaluation.
Source: rss
