Hearing aid sales: Industry returns to growth in 2021

After a noticeable drop of hearing aid sales in the year 2020, global annual sales rebounded in 2021. In the last year, the members of EHIMA, the world’s largest and leading hearing instrument manufacturers, sold 18.79 million hearing aids. Compared to the previous year, sales figures increased by a full 33 percent. This marks a return to the growth path seen before 2020.

“Last year’s growth shows the undiminished demand for high quality hearing solutions. Even when close contact in audiology shops was temporarily limited due to the pandemic, product innovation continued, and the dedication of all employees working for the EHIMA companies remained exceptionally high. Together with our committed customers, the hearing care professionals and audiologists, we successfully managed the impact of the pandemic on the industry”, says EHIMA President Eric Bernard.

EuroTrak1, EHIMA’s multi-national survey series of people living with hearing loss, shows increased awareness of the benefits of timely hearing care in various countries. In the European Union alone, around 22.6 million people live with untreated, disabling hearing loss, leading to annual costs of 185 billion Euros.2 With hearing aids and hearing implants, EHIMA members offer high-quality and cost-effective solutions that help reduce these risks, remain independent and participate fully in society well into old age.

The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) represents the world’s major hearing instrument manufacturers, offering smart hearing aid and implant solutions for people living with hearing loss. 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 states a hearing loss.*
• Only 1 in 3 of the hard of hearing people use hearing instruments.*
• Untreated hearing loss costs EU28 each year 185 billion €.**
• Hearing instruments help to reduce these costs.**

1 Source: www.ehima.com/surveys
2 Source: Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs, https://www.hear-it.org/untreatedhearing-loss-eu-costs-more-whole-eu-budget
Source: *EuroTrak; **Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs, Brunel University London; both available at www.ehima.com