The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) announced a decline in hearing aid sales in the first year of the pandemic, according to its annual global sales numbers. In 2020, EHIMA members sold 14.12 million hearing aids in total; compared to the previous year, sales fell by 17.2%, an “unprecedented first after years of continued growth,” according to EHIMA.

Eric Bernard, EHIMA President

Related article: EHIMA Reports 6.4% Growth in Global Hearing Aid Sales for 2019

“Like most parts of society and business, the hearing aid industry was impacted by the pandemic,” said EHIMA President Eric Bernard. “The hearing care market depends on close customer contact, which was often not possible or required special measures in the clinics and the audiology shops. Despite these challenges, EHIMA members did everything possible to meet the high demand for timely professional hearing care. Thanks to product innovation and the dedication of all employees working for EHIMA companies, we have been and will continue to be able to successfully manage the impact of the pandemic on the industry.”

 Global Unit Sales
201513.68 million 
201614.24 million (+4.1%)
201715.05 million (+5.7%)
201816.04 million (+6.6%)
201917.06 million (+6.4%)
202014.12 million (-17.2%)

Source: EHIMA data

EHIMA expects that awareness of hearing care will continue to increase in the coming years as the world’s population grows and ages and as more and more people become aware of the correlation of hearing loss and critical health conditions. With hearing aids and hearing implants, EHIMA members offer “high-quality and cost-effective solutions that help people living with hearing loss to reduce these risks, stay independent, and to fully participate in society, well into older age.”

The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) 

EHIMA represents the world’s seven major hearing instrument manufacturers, offering smart hearing aid and implant solutions for people hard of hearing. EHIMA was founded in 1985 and its members “are among the world’s largest and most advanced hearing instrument manufacturers.” Members of EHIMA develop, manufacture, and market hearing instruments on a large scale in one or more countries in Europe as well as exporting their products worldwide.  

Key Facts on Hearing Loss 

  • 1 in 10 of the total EU population reports having hearing loss.* 
  • Only 1 in 3 hard-of-hearing people use hearing instruments.* 
  • Untreated hearing loss costs EU28 each year 185 billion € (USD $225.6 billion).** 
  • Hearing instruments help to reduce these costs.** 

Reference: *EuroTrak; **Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs, Brunel University London; both available at: www.ehima.com.

Source: EHIMA