Hearing Aid Statistics 2026
This page collects figures on hearing aids: how many people who need them use them, how adoption differs between the US and Europe, what has changed since over-the-counter hearing aids went on sale in the US in October 2022, what people pay, how long they wait before getting help, how satisfied owners are, and how large the industry is. Most figures cover the United States, with global estimates from WHO and European survey data from EuroTrak for France, Germany and the UK. The newest figures describe 2025 and 2026; the NIDCD uptake estimates rest on national hearing exams from before the OTC rule and are labeled with their year.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 7, 2026 · 55 numbers drawn from 19 publishers and reports
Short answer
About 28.8 million US adults could benefit from hearing aids, but only about 30% of those aged 70 and older and 16% of those aged 20 to 69 have ever used them, according to NIDCD. MarkeTrak 2025 from the Hearing Industries Association puts US adoption among adults with hearing difficulty at 39%, including 5.7% who own over-the-counter hearing aids, three years after the FDA's OTC rule took effect in October 2022. People wait an average of 10.3 years after noticing hearing problems before acting, and a pair bought privately at a clinic still cost about $4,727 in 2025, per HearingTracker.
Headline numbers
- 28.8 millionAbout 28.8 million US adults could benefit from using hearing aids, according to NIDCD calculations from national hearing exam data.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- 30%Among US adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, about 30% have ever used them.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- 16.3%The share of US adults aged 65 and older reporting hearing aid use rose from 11.2% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2022 in a nationally representative study in JAMA Network Open.JAMA Network Open
- 55%In France, 55% of people with self-declared hearing loss had hearing aids in 2025, and 74% of owners wore two, the EuroTrak France survey found.European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association
- 5.7%Of the 39% of US adults with hearing difficulty who owned hearing aids in 2025, 33.5% had traditional devices and 5.7% had OTC hearing aids, MarkeTrak 2025 found.Hearing Industries Association
- 4 percentage pointsOTC hearing aids added only about 4 percentage points to total US hearing device adoption by 2025, because some OTC owners also had prescription aids.Hearing Industries Association
- $4,727Buyers at traditional clinics without insurance still paid about $4,727 per pair in late 2025, HearingTracker found.HearingTracker
- 10.3 yearsUS adults with hearing difficulty had been aware of it for an average of 10.3 years before taking action, MarkeTrak 2025 found.Hearing Industries Association
Reading the numbers
The core fact about hearing aids is the gap between need and use. NIDCD estimates that 28.8 million US adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet only about 30% of those aged 70 and older and about 16% of those aged 20 to 69 have ever used them. FDA and NIDCD both describe this as roughly one in five people who could benefit. Use is rising slowly: a JAMA Network Open study found hearing aid use among adults 65 and older climbed from 11.2% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2022, though it fell among low-income adults outside metropolitan areas.
The FDA's over-the-counter category, in effect since October 17, 2022, was meant to close that gap by lowering prices and removing the need for a professional visit. MarkeTrak 2025, published by the Hearing Industries Association, finds 39% of US adults with hearing difficulty now own hearing aids, with 5.7% owning OTC devices. OTC buyers are younger, with a median age of 58 against 73 for traditional owners, and 70% are first-time buyers, but the net gain in adoption is only about 4 percentage points. Earbuds with hearing features, used by 20.9% of people with hearing difficulty, added more.
Cost remains the clearest barrier. HearingTracker's 2025 buyer survey found private-pay clinic customers paid about $4,727 a pair, almost unchanged since 2018, while the average across all channels fell to $2,694 as more people used insurance, Costco and OTC options. MarkeTrak authors estimate $250 would be affordable to more than 90% of Americans with hearing loss. Europe shows what wider coverage does: EuroTrak puts adoption at 55% in France and Germany and 50.5% in the UK, where the NHS supplies 69% of devices free.
Delay and use are the other half of the story. MarkeTrak 2025 finds people know about their hearing difficulty for 10.3 years on average before acting, and traditional hearing aid owners for 12.7 years. Once fitted, most are satisfied, 83% of traditional and 76% of OTC owners in the US and 82% in the UK, but only 67% of US owners wear their devices daily. Industry reports from Sonova, Demant and GN describe a market that grows 4% to 6% a year in units but saw weaker value growth in 2025.
How many Americans use hearing aids
- 1.
About 28.8 million US adults could benefit from using hearing aids, according to NIDCD calculations from national hearing exam data.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
- 2.
Among US adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, about 30% have ever used them.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
Among adults ages 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than 1 in 3 (30%) has ever used them.
- 3.
Among US adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from hearing aids, about 16% have ever used them, NIDCD reports.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
Even fewer adults ages 20-69 (approximately 16%) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.
- 4.
NIDCD says only about one in five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Hearing Aids (Oct 2022)
Exact wording at the source
However, only about one out of five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one.
- 5.
FDA states that only about one fifth of people who could benefit from a hearing aid seek intervention, the gap the OTC category was created to close.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know (Oct 2022)
Exact wording at the source
Despite the high number of people affected by hearing loss, only about one-fifth of those who could benefit from a hearing aid seek intervention.
- 6.
The share of US adults aged 65 and older reporting hearing aid use rose from 11.2% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2022 in a nationally representative study in JAMA Network Open.
JAMA Network Open, Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
The proportion of older adults reporting hearing aid use increased from 11.2% (95% CI, 10.3-12.0) in 2011 to 16.3% (95% CI, 14.8-18.0) in 2022, a 45.5% increase in uptake ( Table ).
- 7.
That rise from 2011 to 2022 equals a 45.5% increase in hearing aid uptake among US adults aged 65 and older.
JAMA Network Open, Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
Discussion In this nationally representative cross-sectional study, the proportion of adults aged 65 years and older reporting hearing aid use increased by 45.5% between 2011 and 2022, with the greatest increase occurring among adults who resided in metropolitan areas.
- 8.
Hearing aid use grew in every group studied except low-income older adults in nonmetropolitan areas, where it fell 15.2% from 2011 to 2022.
JAMA Network Open, Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
Hearing aid use increased across all groups except for low-income adults in nonmetropolitan areas, for whom there was a 15.2% decrease ( Table , Figure ).
- 9.
In 2021, 9.2% of US men aged 45 and older used a hearing aid, compared with 5.5% of women, according to the National Health Interview Survey.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 45 Years and Older Who Use a Hearing Aid, by Sex and Age Group, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021 (MMWR) (Feb 2023)
Exact wording at the source
In 2021, among adults aged ≥45 years, men were more likely to use a hearing aid than were women (9.2% versus 5.5%).
- 10.
Among US adults aged 75 to 84 in 2021, 26.7% of men and 13.7% of women used a hearing aid, CDC reports from NHIS data.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 45 Years and Older Who Use a Hearing Aid, by Sex and Age Group, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021 (MMWR) (Feb 2023)
Exact wording at the source
This pattern was found in all age groups: 3.0% of men versus 1.4% of women among those aged 45–64 years, 12.3% versus 5.7% among those aged 65–74 years, 26.7% versus 13.7% among those aged 75–84 years, and 39.5% versus 31.5% among those aged ≥85 years.
- 11.
JAMA Network Open authors note that fewer than 20% of US adults with hearing loss use hearing aids, citing limits in access and quality.
JAMA Network Open, Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
However, fewer than 20% of US adults with hearing loss use hearing aids, the mainstay of treatment, due to limitations in access and quality.
Chart
Share of US men aged 45 and older who use a hearing aid, by age, 2021
National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021. Shares of all men in each age group, not only those with hearing loss.
- 45 to 643%
- 65 to 7412.3%
- 75 to 8426.7%
- 85 and older39.5%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 45 Years and Older Who Use a Hearing Aid, by Sex and Age Group, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021 (MMWR)
Hearing aid adoption worldwide and in Europe
- 12.
Over 5% of the world's population, about 430 million people, require rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss, WHO estimates.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Overview Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss (including 34 million children).
- 13.
WHO projects that by 2050 over 700 million people, or 1 in every 10, will have disabling hearing loss.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people – or 1 in every 10 people – will have disabling hearing loss.
- 14.
Among people older than 60 worldwide, over 25% are affected by disabling hearing loss, according to WHO.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, among those older than 60 years, over 25% are affected by disabling hearing loss.
- 15.
Nearly 80% of people with disabling hearing loss live in low and middle income countries, WHO says.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Nearly 80% of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries.
- 16.
In France, 55% of people with self-declared hearing loss had hearing aids in 2025, and 74% of owners wore two, the EuroTrak France survey found.
European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, EuroTrak France 2025 (Anovum survey for EHIMA and SNITEM) (Apr 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Hearing aid adoption rate: 55% of the hearing impaired have hearing aid(s), and 74% of them have binaural treatment
- 17.
In Germany, hearing aid adoption among people with hearing difficulty rose from 30% in 2000 to 55% in 2025, based on EuroTrak data reported with MarkeTrak 2025.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025 Compared with EuroTrak Germany and France (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Pivoting to Europe, the adoption rate in France increased from 32 to 47%, and in Germany, the rate rose from 30 to 55% from 2000 to 2025.
- 18.
In the UK, adoption among people with self-declared hearing loss dipped to 50.5% in 2025 from 52.8% in 2022, according to EuroTrak UK.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Despite clear evidence of benefit, the adoption rate among people with self-declared hearing loss has dipped slightly to 50.5%, down from 52.8% in 2022.
- 19.
The NHS supplied 69% of hearing instruments in the UK free of charge in 2025, EuroTrak UK data show.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Crucially, the data also revealed that the NHS continues to be a cornerstone of hearing care in the UK, supplying 69% of hearing instruments free of charge, which demonstrates that the NHS is delivering significant levels of service despite frequently reported pressures and growing demand.
Chart
US hearing aid adoption among adults with hearing difficulty, MarkeTrak
MarkeTrak surveys of US adults with self-reported hearing difficulty. The 2025 figure includes OTC hearing aids.
Source: Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing)
OTC hearing aids since the 2022 FDA rule
- 20.
FDA's over-the-counter hearing aid category for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss took effect on October 17, 2022.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know (Oct 2022)
Exact wording at the source
To increase the public’s access to hearing aids and improve hearing, the FDA established a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults 18 years of age and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss that went into effect on October 17, 2022.
- 21.
When it finalized the OTC rule in August 2022, FDA said close to 30 million US adults could benefit from hearing aid use.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans (archived copy) (Aug 2022)
Exact wording at the source
Close to 30 million adults in the U.S. could benefit from hearing aid use.
- 22.
FDA authorized the first OTC hearing aid software in September 2024, for Apple AirPods Pro, after a clinical study with 118 people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software (Sep 2024)
Exact wording at the source
The HAF was evaluated in a clinical study with 118 subjects with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, at multiple U.S. sites.
- 23.
Of the 39% of US adults with hearing difficulty who owned hearing aids in 2025, 33.5% had traditional devices and 5.7% had OTC hearing aids, MarkeTrak 2025 found.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Survey results from MT2025 estimate that 33.5% out of the 39% of users adopted traditional hearing aids, and 5.7% adopted OTC hearing aids.
- 24.
In MarkeTrak 2025, 70% of OTC hearing aid buyers were first-time buyers, against 58% of traditional hearing aid users.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
First-Time Buyer Patterns Availability of OTC hearing aids has challenged traditional market entry pathways, with 70% of first-time buyers adopting OTC devices in MT2025 results (see [Fig. 2]).
- 25.
OTC hearing aids added only about 4 percentage points to total US hearing device adoption by 2025, because some OTC owners also had prescription aids.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: The Impact of OTC Hearing Aids (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The results of the survey suggest OTC hearing aids have had a small incremental increase (4 percentage points) in hearing device adoptions, a smaller impact than earbuds with features designed to support hearing loss.
- 26.
In 2025, 20.9% of US adults reporting hearing difficulty used earbuds with a hearing improvement feature, MarkeTrak 2025 reports.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The growth of this earbud market segment is noteworthy, where 20.9% of those reporting hearing difficulty indicate using earbuds with a HI feature.
- 27.
The median age of US OTC hearing aid owners was 58 in 2025, against 73 for owners of traditional hearing aids.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Among hearing aid owners, the median age for those using traditional hearing aids was 73 years, while OTC hearing aid owners had a median age of 58.
Hearing aid prices and coverage
- 28.
The average price US respondents paid for a pair of hearing aids across all channels was $2,694 in HearingTracker's 2025 survey, down from $4,672 in its 2018 survey.
HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In HearingTracker’s latest survey of more than 1,100 hearing-aid purchasers, the average price paid was $2,694 a pair (down from $4,672 in 2018).
- 29.
Buyers at traditional clinics without insurance still paid about $4,727 per pair in late 2025, HearingTracker found.
HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In late 2025, people buying from traditional clinics without insurance still paid about $4,727 per pair.
- 30.
Average prices paid for hearing aids fell 42% from 2018, as OTC devices, insurance and Costco changed how people buy, according to HearingTracker survey data.
HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Average prices are down 42% since 2018 as OTC, insurance, and Costco reshape the market.
- 31.
Buyers of premium traditional hearing aids who used health insurance saved an average of 32%, or $1,694, in HearingTracker's 2025 survey.
HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Insurance : Those who purchase traditional prescription hearing aids with healthcare insurance save an average of 32% or $1,694 on premium-tier products and more (51%) when purchasing mid-tier products.
- 32.
MarkeTrak 2025 authors estimate that a total out-of-pocket hearing aid cost of $250 would be affordable to more than 90% of Americans with hearing loss.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: The Impact of OTC Hearing Aids (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Conversely, a total, out-of-pocket hearing aid expense of $250 would be affordable to more than 90% of Americans with hearing loss.
- 33.
The share of US hearing aid users with some third party coverage grew from 48% in 2015 to 63% in 2025, MarkeTrak 2025 reports.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
While coverage has grown from 48% in 2015 to 63% in 2025, disparities remain.
- 34.
In 2026, 98% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer some hearing benefit, such as hearing exams or hearing aids, KFF found.
KFF, Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2026, 98% or more individual plans offer some vision (99%), dental (98%) or hearing benefits (98%), similar to 2025 (97% or more) (Figure 2).
Chart
Average price paid for a pair of hearing aids in the US, by channel, 2025
HearingTracker survey of 879 US pair purchases in 2025, a self-selected sample of its readers. Excludes VA fittings.
- Traditional clinic, no insurance$4,727
- Traditional clinic, with insurance$2,567
- All channels$2,694
- Costco$1,674
- Over the counter$502
Source: HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey)
How long people wait before getting help
- 35.
US adults with hearing difficulty had been aware of it for an average of 10.3 years before taking action, MarkeTrak 2025 found.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Duration of Hearing Concerns Among the entire sample reporting any level of hearing difficulty, individuals are aware of hearing difficulties for an average of 10.3 years prior to taking action.
- 36.
OTC hearing aid owners in the US had been aware of their hearing issues for 5.3 years on average, against 12.7 years for traditional hearing aid owners, in 2025.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
When limiting to only OTC hearing aid owners, this group has become aware of their hearing issues more recently (5.3 years) compared to traditional hearing aid owners (12.7 years).
- 37.
In HearingTracker's 2025 survey, 54.1% of buyers got their first hearing aids within 2 years of noticing difficulty, with a median of 2 years and a mean of 3.4 years.
HearingTracker, How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In our survey, many respondents moved relatively quickly from noticing hearing difficulty to getting their first hearing aids: 54.1% acted within 2 years (median 2 years, mean 3.4 years), including 25.7% who purchased within the first year.
- 38.
In France, most people waited 2 to 3 years between becoming aware of hearing loss and buying hearing aids, EuroTrak France 2025 found.
European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, EuroTrak France 2025 (Anovum survey for EHIMA and SNITEM) (Apr 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Mostly, 2-3 years pass between becoming aware of hearing loss and purchasing hearing aids
Satisfaction and daily use
- 39.
In 2025, 83% of US traditional hearing aid owners and 76% of OTC hearing aid owners reported being satisfied with their devices.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Overall satisfaction among hearing aid users continues to be high, with 83% of traditional hearing aid owners and 76% of OTC hearing aid owners reporting satisfaction with their devices.
- 40.
Just over two thirds, 67%, of US hearing aid owners reported using their devices daily in MarkeTrak 2025.
Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Over two-thirds (67%) of hearing aid owners (n = 2,172) reported using their devices daily (see [Fig. 4]).
- 41.
In the UK, 82% of hearing instrument users were satisfied with their devices in 2025, up from 75% in 2022, according to EuroTrak UK.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
82% of users are satisfied with their hearing instruments, up from 75%.
- 42.
UK hearing instrument users wore their devices 9 hours per day on average in 2025, up from 8.1 hours in 2022.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Average daily wear time has risen by over 10%, reaching 9 hours per day, up from 8.1 hours in 2022.
- 43.
In 2025, 70% of UK hearing instrument users said they never feel mocked or rejected because of their devices, up from 64% in 2022.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In line with BIHIMA’s 2024/2025 audiologist survey, the EuroTrak 2025 data suggests that stigma around hearing instruments still exists but is improving: 70% of users say they never feel mocked or rejected because of their devices, up from 64% in 2022.
- 44.
App use rose to 31% of UK hearing aid owners in 2025, from 22% in 2022, EuroTrak UK found.
British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The data revealed that there has been a notable increase in their adoption: 31% of hearing aid owners now use an app associated to their device, up from 22% in 2022.
- 45.
In France, 83% of hearing aid owners were satisfied with their hearing aids in 2025, according to EuroTrak France.
European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, EuroTrak France 2025 (Anovum survey for EHIMA and SNITEM) (Apr 2025)
Exact wording at the source
83% of the HA owners are satisfied with their hearing aids
- 46.
In France, 42% of hearing aid owners used a hearing aid app in 2025, and 80% of those users were satisfied with it.
European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, EuroTrak France 2025 (Anovum survey for EHIMA and SNITEM) (Apr 2025)
Exact wording at the source
42% of HA owners use a hearing aids app, and 80% are satisfied
Chart
Hearing aid owners satisfied with their devices, 2025
MarkeTrak 2025 for the US and EuroTrak 2025 for France and Germany, as compared by the MarkeTrak authors.
- United States82%
- France83%
- Germany85%
Source: Hearing Industries Association, MarkeTrak 2025 Compared with EuroTrak Germany and France (Seminars in Hearing)
Hearing aid market size and industry
- 47.
Sonova, the largest hearing aid maker, reported group sales of CHF 3,605.9 million for the 2025/26 financial year, up 5.9% in local currencies.
Sonova, Sonova Annual Report 2025/26: Financial Review (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Strong market share gains, driven by successful product launches In the 2025/26 financial year, Sonova Group sales reached CHF 3,605.9 million, up 5.9% in local currencies and down 0.2% when translated into Swiss francs.
- 48.
Sonova's Hearing Instruments segment had sales of CHF 3,353.8 million in 2025/26, up 7.5% in local currencies.
Sonova, Sonova Annual Report 2025/26: Financial Review (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Hearing Instruments segment – Strong sales growth and acceleration in the second half Sales in the Hearing Instruments segment totaled CHF 3,353.8 million, reflecting an increase of 7.5% in local currencies and 1.4% in Swiss francs.
- 49.
Sonova's hearing aid units sold in low and middle income countries were 67% higher in 2024/25 than in 2018/19.
Sonova, Sonova Annual Report 2024/25: Letter to Shareholders (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In line with our efforts to expand access to hearing care, units sold in low- and middle-income countries increased by 67% over the 2018/19 financial year.
- 50.
Demant's hearing aid unit sales grew 6% in 2025 while its average selling price fell 2%, reflecting a shift in geography and sales channels.
Demant, Demant A/S Annual Report 2025 and review of H2 2025 (Feb 2026)
Exact wording at the source
If we look at our total Hearing Aids revenue, unit growth was 6%, whereas the average selling price (ASP) declined by 2% due to geography and channel mix changes.
- 51.
Demant's hearing care clinics carried out 1.6 million hearing tests in 2025, up from 1.5 million in 2024.
Demant, Demant A/S Annual Report 2025 and review of H2 2025 (Feb 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Furthermore, we increased the number of hearing tests carried out in our hearing care clinics from 1.5 million in 2024 to 1.6 million in 2025.
- 52.
GN says the global hearing aid market has historically grown 4% to 6% a year in unit volumes, driven by aging populations.
GN Store Nord, GN Annual Report 2025 (Feb 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Key revenue assumptions for the financial guidance of 2026 Hearing division GN is exposed to an attractive hearing aid market, which has histori- cally been growing 4-6% in volumes driven by ongoing favorable de- mographic trends.
- 53.
In 2025, global hearing aid market value grew below its structural trend of 3% to 5% because of global uncertainty and weak consumer sentiment, GN reports.
GN Store Nord, GN Annual Report 2025 (Feb 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, the global hearing aid market was negatively impacted by global uncertainty and weak consumer sentiment, resulting in market value growth below its structural trends of 3-5%.
- 54.
Unaddressed hearing loss costs the world almost US$1 trillion each year, WHO estimates.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of almost US$ 1 trillion.
- 55.
WHO says an extra investment of less than US$1.40 per person a year would be enough to scale up ear and hearing care services globally.
World Health Organization, Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
An annual additional investment of less than US$ 1.40 per person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally.
Questions readers ask
- What percentage of people who need hearing aids use them?
- In the US, NIDCD estimates that about 30% of adults 70 and older and about 16% of adults 20 to 69 who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them. MarkeTrak 2025 puts adoption among adults who report hearing difficulty at 39%. Worldwide, WHO estimates more than 430 million people need rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss.
- Have OTC hearing aids increased adoption?
- Somewhat. MarkeTrak 2025 found 5.7% of US adults with hearing difficulty own OTC hearing aids, but because some also own prescription aids, the net gain in adoption was about 4 percentage points. 70% of OTC buyers were first-time buyers, and their median age was 58.
- How much do hearing aids cost?
- In HearingTracker's 2025 survey of US buyers, the average price for a pair across all channels was $2,694, while private-pay customers at traditional clinics paid about $4,727. OTC pairs averaged $502 and Costco pairs $1,674 in the same survey.
- How long do people wait before getting hearing aids?
- MarkeTrak 2025 found US adults with hearing difficulty had known about it for 10.3 years on average before acting, and traditional hearing aid owners for 12.7 years. OTC owners acted sooner, after about 5.3 years. EuroTrak France finds most buyers wait 2 to 3 years.
- Are people satisfied with their hearing aids?
- Mostly. In MarkeTrak 2025, 83% of US traditional hearing aid owners and 76% of OTC owners were satisfied. EuroTrak surveys report 82% satisfaction in the UK and 83% in France in 2025.
- Does Medicare pay for hearing aids?
- Traditional Medicare excludes hearing aids, but KFF found 98% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer some hearing benefit in 2026. MarkeTrak 2025 reports that 63% of US hearing aid users had some third party coverage, up from 48% in 2015.
Where these numbers come from
We used primary sources only: US federal agencies (NIDCD, FDA, CDC), the World Health Organization, a peer-reviewed study in JAMA Network Open, consumer surveys run by the hearing industry (MarkeTrak 2025 from the Hearing Industries Association, published in Seminars in Hearing, and EuroTrak surveys for EHIMA and BIHIMA), KFF's analysis of Medicare Advantage plans, HearingTracker's own buyer survey, and annual reports from Sonova, Demant and GN. Adoption figures use different bases: NIDCD counts people whose hearing exams show they could benefit, NHIS and JAMA Network Open count all older adults, and MarkeTrak and EuroTrak count people who report hearing difficulty. HearingTracker's prices come from a self-selected sample of its readers, and company figures describe each maker's own sales. Every quote was checked against the source page on the date shown. We store the sentence each number appears in, and a script loads the publisher's page again to make sure that sentence is still there. Our methodology has the details.
Sources
- British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association. New EuroTrak UK data reveals encouraging trends in hearing instrument use and satisfaction, but awareness gap persists (Sep 2025).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 45 Years and Older Who Use a Hearing Aid, by Sex and Age Group, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021 (MMWR) (Feb 2023).
- Demant. Demant A/S Annual Report 2025 and review of H2 2025 (Feb 2026).
- European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association. EuroTrak France 2025 (Anovum survey for EHIMA and SNITEM) (Apr 2025).
- GN Store Nord. GN Annual Report 2025 (Feb 2026).
- Hearing Industries Association. MarkeTrak 2025 Compared with EuroTrak Germany and France (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025).
- Hearing Industries Association. MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aid Adoption, Use and Satisfaction (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025).
- Hearing Industries Association. MarkeTrak 2025: The Impact of OTC Hearing Aids (Seminars in Hearing) (Oct 2025).
- HearingTracker. How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (HearingTracker hearing aid price survey) (Jul 2026).
- JAMA Network Open. Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence (Sep 2024).
- KFF. Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits (Dec 2025).
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, and Dizziness (Sep 2024).
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing Aids (Oct 2022).
- Sonova. Sonova Annual Report 2025/26: Financial Review (May 2026).
- Sonova. Sonova Annual Report 2024/25: Letter to Shareholders (May 2025).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know (Oct 2022).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans (archived copy) (Aug 2022).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software (Sep 2024).
- World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss (fact sheet) (Mar 2026).
Citing this page
Link to this page or to a single numbered figure. If you reuse a number, name the organization that released it in the first place.
HearSmart. (2026, November 7). Hearing Aid Statistics 2026. https://hearsmart.org/hearing-aid-statistics
Found a number that changed or a source that moved? Email editorial@hearsmart.org. We plan to check this page again by January 6, 2027.