The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) reports that global hearing aid sales by its members, featuring leading hearing instrument manufacturers, grew by 4.7% to a total 20.25 million units in 2022. This followed a steep increase from pre-Covid levels due to catch-up demand in 2021.
“The aggregate data shows continuous demand for high-quality hearing care in many countries, as more and more people pay closer attention to their hearing needs. Together with our partners, such as medical, professional and patients’ organizations, EHIMA continues to raise public awareness of the benefits of timely and professional hearing health care,” says EHIMA President Arnd Kaldowski, who took on this role as part of a scheduled rotation in May 2023.
EuroTrak, EHIMA’s multi-national survey series of people living with hearing loss, shows that awareness of the various benefits of hearing care has increased in several countries. (2)
In the year 2022, 96% of hearing aid users surveyed in France, the U.K., and Germany report a higher quality of life after having been fitted with hearing aids. For 92%, hearing aids are useful in their jobs. Roughly 62% regret not having adopted hearing aids earlier. (3)
Members of EHIMA develop, manufacture, and market hearing instruments on a large scale in one or more countries in Europe as well as export their products, worldwide.
Key hearing loss facts:
- 1 in 10 of the total EU population states a hearing loss.*
- Only 1 in 3 of people living with hearing loss uses hearing aids.*
- Untreated hearing loss costs EU and UK each year 185 billion euros.**
- Hearing aids and hearing implants help to reduce these costs.**
Source: *EuroTrak; **Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs, Brunel University London; both available at www.ehima.com
Other References:
1. The global unit sales for the year 2021 were slightly adjusted upon review of EHIMA’s internal reporting standards.
2. Source: www.ehima.com/surveys
3. Pooled data from EuroTrak surveys in France, UK and Germany (all done in 2022). The respective surveys can be accessed at www.ehima.com/surveys
Featured graph: EHIMA data of global hearing aid sales by its members. Image: Courtesy of EHIMA