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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; timing and safeguards are not yet final. The move could also permit Apple’s approved AirPods Pro hearing features to operate in Ontario once the legal framework changes.
Ontario says it will change provincial rules to let adults buy Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription, a move that could expand access to hearing support and clear a regulatory obstacle for hearing features on consumer devices. The government expects to include the changes in its 2026 Fall Economic Statement, scheduled for release on or before Nov. 15, but the law has not yet changed.
Under current Ontario law, hearing aids can be sold only with a prescription from a physician or audiologist. The planned change would allow adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase approved OTC devices without first obtaining one. The province says it is moving ahead after a 30-day public consultation launched in April 2026; The Hearing Review reported that responses showed strong support, though the source material does not provide response totals or a breakdown.
The proposed change could also affect Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing functions. Health Canada approved Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature and Hearing Test Feature in 2025, but they remain inactive in Ontario under the province’s prescription rules, according to The Hearing Review. The report says AirPods Pro 2 and 3 users could be able to take a hearing test and use the hearing aid function after Ontario’s legal framework is updated. That possibility depends on the legislation taking effect and on the features meeting applicable requirements; the province has not announced an activation date.
The government says the plan would complement, not replace the prescription-based system. It also says the change will not affect 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 program does not cover future non-prescription OTC devices, according to the report.
More Routes to Hearing Support
Removing the prescription requirement could give some adults a quicker and more convenient way to access hearing devices, particularly people who face barriers to professional care. It may also broaden consumer choice by allowing approved hearing assistance functions in products such as Apple’s earbuds to be used in Ontario. The change does not establish that OTC products will be suitable for everyone or that they will replace clinical assessment.
Safeguards and public information will matter because hearing difficulties can have causes that require assessment or treatment. Ontario’s audiology groups have supported wider access with qualifications, including clear guidance about which symptoms warrant professional care. The precise consumer protections and legal rules are not yet set out in the available source material.
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Ontario’s Prescription Rule
Ontario’s existing prescription requirement has restricted sales of hearing aids without authorization from a physician or audiologist. That rule has also kept federally approved consumer-device hearing features inactive in the province, according to The Hearing Review. Health Canada’s 2025 approval of Apple’s hearing features addressed federal authorization, but did not by itself remove Ontario’s separate provincial restriction.
The province says it is advancing the proposal through its Health Innovation Pathway, an initiative intended to speed consideration of health innovations. The planned move follows the April 2026 consultation. The government has described its aim as removing outdated legislative and regulatory barriers, while keeping existing prescription options and associated program coverage in place.
“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 province has announced its intention to proceed, but the legislation has not yet been formalized. The exact wording, implementation date, eligibility details, product requirements, and consumer protections remain unclear in the available report. It is also not clear whether the planned framework will include specific screening advice or referral guidance for people with symptoms beyond mild to moderate hearing difficulty.
CASLPO cautioned that OTC devices are not appropriate for everyone, including children and people with symptoms or underlying conditions that need assessment by a regulated hearing professional. The Ontario Association of Professional Audiology has also warned against using a hearing aid to mask a problem that may need medical treatment. These are professional concerns, not confirmation that the proposed rules will lack safeguards.
Fall Statement Sets Next Milestone
The next stated milestone is Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, expected on or before Nov. 15, where the government plans to formalize the legislative changes. Once the proposal is published, the details should clarify when OTC sales can begin and what requirements retailers, manufacturers, and users will need to follow.
Any activation of Apple’s hearing functions in Ontario would follow the provincial rule change rather than the announcement alone. The government has not given a separate launch date for those features. Readers should also watch for further information on consumer protections and whether the Assistive Devices Program’s existing coverage rules will remain as described for prescribed devices.
Key Questions
Will Ontarians be able to buy OTC hearing aids now?
Not yet under the announced plan. Ontario says legislative changes are coming, with formalization expected in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement, due on or before Nov. 15. Current prescription rules remain in place until changes take effect.
Who would be eligible to use over-the-counter hearing aids?
The proposal is described as allowing adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to buy approved OTC devices without a prescription. The final rules and eligibility details have not been published.
Will Apple AirPods Pro hearing features work in Ontario?
The Hearing Review reports that Apple’s hearing features are federally approved but inactive in Ontario because of provincial prescription rules. They could become available after the province changes its law, but no activation date has been announced.
Will OTC hearing aids be covered by Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program?
The report says the proposed change will not affect existing coverage for prescribed hearing aids. The program currently covers up to 75% of the bill, capped at $500 per aid, and does not cover future non-prescription OTC devices.
Are OTC hearing aids suitable for everyone?
No. CASLPO says they are not appropriate for children or for people with symptoms or underlying medical conditions requiring assessment. Audiology representatives have urged people with hearing concerns to seek professional advice when symptoms may have another cause.
Source: rss
