Audioscan Verifit 2 OTC/DTC Test Suite: What You Should Know
The Audioscan Verifit 2 has long been a trusted tool for hearing aid verification, and Audioscan continues to expand its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of hearing care professionals. With the rise of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, clinicians need a reliable way to evaluate device performance and counsel patients with confidence.
That’s where the new Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite comes in. This guide answers the most important questions about this new software feature, what it does, how it works, and why it matters in clinical practice.
What Is the Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite?
The Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite is an addition to the Verifit 2 software, available in software version 2023.2.2 and later. It provides hearing care professionals with a way to assess the performance and audibility of OTC and direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing devices.
This means clinicians now have an objective method for evaluating devices that patients purchase outside of a traditional clinical fitting, helping ensure patients receive safe and effective amplification.
How the OTC/DTC Test Suite Enhances Clinical Practice
The new test suite supports clinicians in several important ways. By providing objective performance data, it strengthens patient counseling, expands service offerings, and improves clinical decision-making.
Key benefits include:
- Informed patient counseling. Clinicians can use test results to educate existing OTC hearing aid users about the quality and suitability of their devices. This opens the door for professional guidance, including recommending prescription hearing aids when appropriate.
- Performance evaluation of unregulated devices. The suite can measure the safety and utility of Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs) and hearables, which fall outside FDA regulation.
- Broader technology offerings. Clinics can confidently expand their range of products by verifying performance and safety, allowing them to serve patients with varied hearing needs and budgets.
This positions the Verifit 2 not only as a verification tool, but as a strategic asset for modern hearing care practices.
What Testing Standards Does the OTC/DTC Suite Use?
The Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite is built on the FDA’s electroacoustic test battery, which is grounded in consumer safety criteria. This framework requires manufacturers to collect and report a specific set of electroacoustic measurements for all OTC products.
The testing structure relies on two established hearing aid measurement standards:
- ANSI/CTA-2051
- ANSI S3.22
It’s important to note that this framework does not extend to PSAPs, since they operate without FDA regulation and compliance with ANSI/CTA-2051 is optional for those products.
The FDA’s consumer safety electroacoustic test battery and its associated performance criteria are embedded directly into the Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite, giving clinicians a standardized, evidence-based testing process.
How to Access the OTC/DTC Test Suite in Verifit 2
Verifit 2 users can access the new tests by selecting the OTC/DTC menu option in software version 2023.2.2 or later.
The OTC/DTC test screen displays frequency response graphs for easy performance evaluation. Once the ANSI/CTA-2051 evaluation test sequence is completed, the device receives a green check mark if it meets FDA criteria under ANSI/CTA-2051 methods.
This simple visual indicator helps clinicians quickly determine whether a device meets safety and performance expectations.
What Styles of OTC Hearing Aids Can Be Verified?
The OTC/DTC Test Suite supports a variety of device styles using different coupling techniques. This flexibility allows clinicians to evaluate nearly any consumer-purchased device a patient brings into the clinic.
Examples include:
- Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) and thin tube OTC devices, coupled using TRIC adapters
- In-ear or earbud-style OTC devices, coupled using blue putty
This versatility ensures clinicians can test the full range of devices currently available on the OTC market.
What Is the Audibility Evaluation Feature?
The Audibility Evaluation is an additional feature within the OTC/DTC Test Suite, though it is not mandated by the FDA. It assesses whether a device provides meaningful speech amplification for mild-to-moderate hearing loss by comparing its performance against established fitting targets.
Audibility can be evaluated using either:
- DSL 5.0a fitting rule
- NAL-NL2 fitting rule
This provides clinicians with a clear, evidence-based way to determine whether an OTC device is delivering audibility appropriate for the patient’s hearing loss, or whether a professionally fit prescription hearing aid would offer a better outcome.
How Verifit 2 Compares to Verifit 1
In addition to the new OTC/DTC Test Suite, Verifit 2 offers several upgrades over Verifit 1 that improve clinical efficiency, accuracy, and patient experience.
Key Verifit 2 features include:
- Precise probe tube placement with ProbeGUIDE™
- Enhanced efficiency with binaural real ear and test box capabilities
- OTC and DTC verification with the new OTC/DTC Test Suite, plus more
Together, these features make Verifit 2 a comprehensive verification platform built for the realities of modern hearing care.
Why the OTC/DTC Test Suite Matters for Hearing Care Professionals
As more patients enter clinics already using OTC devices, hearing care professionals need objective tools to evaluate performance, counsel patients, and recommend the most appropriate next steps. The Audioscan OTC/DTC Test Suite supports this evolving role by providing:
- Standardized, FDA-aligned testing
- Clear performance verification
- Audibility evaluation against trusted fitting targets
- A foundation for evidence-based patient conversations
It is a valuable tool for verifying OTC device suitability and supporting decisions around prescription hearing aid fittings.
Get Started With Verifit 2
Hearing care professionals can take advantage of the new OTC/DTC Test Suite today with a few simple next steps.
Learn more about the Verifit 2 Hearing Aid Verification System
Download the latest Verifit 2 software
To learn about the Audioscan OTC/DTC test suite, watch our interview with Dr. John Pumford of Audioscan now:
OTC Verification Q&A with Dr. John Pumford, Au.D. Part 1
OTC Verification Q&A with Dr. John Pumford, Au.D. Part 2
Other Good Reads: OTC Verification & The Future of Hearing Care: Q&A with Dr. John Pumford of Audioscan