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Ontario says it will pursue legal changes allowing adults to buy and use Health Canada-approved over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription. The proposal is expected in the province’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement; the existing prescription system and Assistive Devices Program are to remain in place.
Ontario’s government plans to allow adults to buy and use Health Canada-approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without a prescription, ending a provincial restriction that currently requires a prescription from a physician or audiologist. The proposed changes are expected in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement and could also permit certain hearing-assistance features in Apple AirPods Pro to operate in Ontario once the new rules take effect.
The province announced Tuesday that it would move forward with legislative changes covering the sale and use of federally approved OTC hearing aids. Under the current provincial rules described in the announcement, hearing aids can be sold only with a prescription from a physician or audiologist. The planned change would create a route for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to access OTC devices without that prescription requirement.
The announcement does not mean the rules have already changed. The government expects to formalize the proposal in its Fall Economic Statement, scheduled for release on or before Nov. 15, 2026. The source report says the province is advancing the changes through its Health Innovation Pathway, following a 30-day public consultation launched in April 2026. The report says the consultation found broad support, but does not provide response totals or detailed results.
The government says the proposal would not replace the existing prescription-based 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. The source report says the program does not cover future OTC, non-prescription devices. The government also says its proposed changes do not affect device pricing.
A New Route to Hearing Support
Removing a prescription requirement could give adults another way to seek help for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, particularly if they face barriers to booking appointments or paying for conventional care. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, so a change there could affect a large number of potential users. The actual reach will depend on the final rules, device availability and what consumers pay.
The proposal could also affect consumer technology. Health Canada approved Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature and Hearing Test Feature in 2025, but the source report says those functions remain inactive in Ontario because of the province’s prescription requirement. If Ontario changes its rules and the other requirements are met, eligible AirPods Pro users may be able to access those features in the province. The announcement itself does not confirm a launch date or guarantee when Apple will activate them.
More access would come with a need for clear safeguards. Hearing changes can have different causes, and an OTC device may not be appropriate for every person. Professional groups cited in the report support broader access for some adults while stressing that symptoms suggesting an underlying medical issue need appropriate assessment.
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Rules Behind the Proposed Change
Ontario’s existing prescription requirement has limited sales of hearing aids that are federally approved for OTC use. The province’s planned legislation would address that provincial barrier; it does not, by itself, change federal approvals or the health conditions for which a device is intended.
Apple’s hearing features have already received Health Canada approval, according to the source report, but provincial rules have prevented their use in Ontario. The report says AirPods Pro 2 and 3 include the relevant features and that the company’s hearing assistance capabilities are in use in more than 100 countries. That international availability does not establish when the features will become available to Ontario residents.
The proposal is framed as an additional option, rather than a replacement for care from audiologists or physicians. The province says the Assistive Devices Program will remain unchanged for eligible people receiving support for prescribed devices. Future OTC products, however, are not covered by that program under the details provided in the source report.
“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
Details Still Await Legislation
The policy is not yet in force, and the source material does not provide draft legislative language, a precise implementation date or the detailed safeguards the province plans to use. It is also not clear which specific products will qualify under Ontario’s rules, how consumers will be directed to professional care when symptoms warrant assessment, or whether additional consumer guidance will be required.
The report does not provide the public consultation’s response count or a breakdown of feedback. It also does not confirm when Apple will activate the AirPods Pro features in Ontario. The final legislation and any subsequent regulatory guidance will determine how the proposed access works in practice.
Fall Statement Sets Next Milestone
The next stated milestone is Ontario’s 2026 Fall Economic Statement, expected on or before Nov. 15. The government is expected to include the legislative changes there, after which the timing and terms of implementation will depend on the legislation and any related regulations.
Consumers, hearing-care professionals and device makers will be watching for the final eligibility rules, safety guidance and effective date. Apple’s feature availability is a separate practical question: the provincial rule change could remove a legal barrier, but the source material does not say when the company will enable the functions for Ontario users.
Key Questions
Will Ontario residents be able to buy OTC hearing aids immediately?
No. The province has announced a plan, but the change is expected to be formalized in the 2026 Fall Economic Statement. The current prescription rule remains in place until the legislation takes effect.
Who would be eligible to use OTC hearing aids?
The proposal is intended to allow adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to access Health Canada-approved OTC hearing aids without a prescription. The exact eligibility and safeguards will depend on the final rules.
Will the change end Ontario’s prescription hearing-aid system?
No. The province says the proposal is meant to add an option rather than replace the existing system. The Assistive Devices Program’s support for prescribed hearing aids is expected to remain unchanged.
Could AirPods Pro hearing features become available in Ontario?
They could, but availability is not confirmed. Health Canada approved Apple’s hearing features in 2025, while Ontario’s prescription requirement has kept them inactive in the province, according to the source report. The timing of any activation is unclear.
Should people with hearing concerns avoid professional assessment?
The cited audiology organizations caution that OTC devices are not suitable for everyone and that hearing symptoms may need professional assessment. The proposed rules would expand access for some adults; they do not establish that an OTC device is appropriate for every cause or degree of hearing difficulty.
Source: hearingreview.com
