OTC is not for every hearing problem
OTC hearing aids are meant for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. They are not the right starting point for children, for suspected severe or profound hearing loss, or for symptoms that may need medical attention.
The point is not to make OTC devices sound risky for everyone. It is to keep the boundary clear so the wrong person does not try to solve a medical or complex hearing problem with a retail purchase.
Red flags should come first
Pause before buying if hearing changed suddenly, is much worse in one ear, comes with pain, drainage, dizziness, pressure, or ringing in only one ear, or if you think something may be in the ear.
Those symptoms deserve professional guidance because the next step may not be a hearing aid at all.
A safer decision path
If your hearing difficulty is gradual, mild-to-moderate, and mostly shows up in common listening situations, OTC devices may be worth comparing. If the story is severe, sudden, one-sided, painful, or confusing, get evaluated first.
Do not use OTC to postpone care
The highest-risk mistake is buying an OTC device to avoid asking why hearing changed. If symptoms are sudden, severe, one-sided, painful, or paired with dizziness, drainage, pressure, or one-sided ringing, evaluation comes first.
If the concern is gradual and fits the mild-to-moderate OTC use case, comparison can be reasonable. If the story does not fit, the safer move is to learn more before buying.