Over-the-counter hearing aids will become available to millions of Americans after the OTC Hearing Aid Act was signed into law this week. The bill, spearheaded by Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, will make certain types of hearing aids available over the counter to Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. The measure requires the FDA to write regulations ensuring that the new category of hearing aids meets the same standards for safety and manufacturing protections as all medical devices. Its goal is to provide people the option of an FDA-regulated device at lower cost. About 48-million Americans experience age-related hearing loss.