Over 24 million US adults report difficulty hearing, yet only one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. This gap persists as wireless technology becomes standard, with Bluetooth now present in most devices shipped in developed markets.
Key Takeaways
- 14.1% of U.S. adults ages 18+ reported “difficulty hearing” (2018)
- 11% of the global hearing aid market is attributed to Asia-Pacific (2022)
- 2.5x: approximately 2.5 times the prevalence of hearing loss among older adults (vs. younger adults) in the U.S.
- 2.6% share: wireless/Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids represented 2.6% of global hearing aid shipments in 2021 (company shipment tracking, 2022)
- Bluetooth support is present in the majority of hearing aids shipped in developed markets (2021 share, 2022)
- Only 1 in 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them (WHO statement)
- 24.5 million people in the U.S. reported difficulty hearing (2019, estimate)
- 24% of hearing aid users report purchasing hearing aids online in the U.S. (survey figure, 2022)
- A 2016–2020 FDA update indicates 3,300+ hearing aid devices were cleared through the 510(k) pathway (cumulative count, FDA)
- Hearing aids are regulated as Class II medical devices in the U.S. (FDA classification)
- 23% of adults with hearing loss report that cost is a barrier to getting hearing care (survey, U.S., 2019)
- Hearing aids with wireless connectivity enable remote control and streaming for 2+ audio sources (industry feature adoption, 2021)
- A 2018 field study found 88% of hearing aid users reported they could understand speech in quiet settings with their devices (field survey, 2018)
- A randomized trial reported that hearing aids improved speech-in-noise recognition by ~2.0 dB SNR on average compared with unaided conditions (trial, 2019)
Nearly one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids still do not use them, despite proven benefits.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size2 stats
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The hearing market’s potential is underscored by the fact that 14.1% of U.S. adults aged 18 and older report difficulty hearing while Asia-Pacific accounts for 11% of the global hearing aid market in 2022, pointing to continued demand driven by widespread hearing issues.
02 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
2.5x: approximately 2.5 times the prevalence of hearing loss among older adults (vs. younger adults) in the U.S.[3]
02
2.6% share: wireless/Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids represented 2.6% of global hearing aid shipments in 2021 (company shipment tracking, 2022)[4]
03
Bluetooth support is present in the majority of hearing aids shipped in developed markets (2021 share, 2022)[4]
04
Hearing aid use is associated with a reduction in depression risk by 27% (meta-analysis, 2019)[5]
05
Hearing aid users show improved cognitive test performance by 1.4 points on average vs. non-users (systematic review, 2019)[5]
06
Hearing loss is associated with a 1.94x increased risk of dementia (meta-analysis, 2019)[5]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends show that hearing loss becomes about 1.94 times more likely to be linked with dementia while hearing aids can be associated with a 27% lower depression risk, underscoring a growing business case for hearing solutions that improve both health and outcomes.
03 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
Only 1 in 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them (WHO statement)[6]
02
24.5 million people in the U.S. reported difficulty hearing (2019, estimate)[1]
03
24% of hearing aid users report purchasing hearing aids online in the U.S. (survey figure, 2022)[7]
04
3.1 million: number of people fitted with hearing aids in the UK (NHS Audiology, 2021–22)[8]
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
Despite millions who need help, user adoption stays low, with only 1 in 5 potential hearing aid users using them according to WHO and just 3.1 million people fitted in the UK in 2021 to 22, showing a persistent gap in uptake within the user adoption category.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis7 stats
01
A 2016–2020 FDA update indicates 3,300+ hearing aid devices were cleared through the 510(k) pathway (cumulative count, FDA)[9]
02
Hearing aids are regulated as Class II medical devices in the U.S. (FDA classification)[9]
03
23% of adults with hearing loss report that cost is a barrier to getting hearing care (survey, U.S., 2019)[7]
04
Average incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $19,000 per QALY for hearing loss treatment vs. no treatment (health economics model, 2017)[5]
05
Germany’s statutory insurance covers hearing aids for eligible patients, with cost-sharing requirements (German G-BA/health system framework, 2020)[10]
06
Hearing aids must meet essential safety and performance requirements under EU MDR (Regulation (EU) 2017/745, Annex I)[11]
07
Class II devices in the U.S. require 510(k) premarket notification for most hearing aid configurations (FDA guidance, 2020)[12]
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost remains a central barrier in hearing care, with 23% of adults with hearing loss citing cost and a health economics model estimating hearing loss treatment at about $19,000 per QALY, even as regulatory and safety frameworks enable thousands of devices to reach the market through the 510(k) pathway.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics6 stats
01
Hearing aids with wireless connectivity enable remote control and streaming for 2+ audio sources (industry feature adoption, 2021)[13]
02
A 2018 field study found 88% of hearing aid users reported they could understand speech in quiet settings with their devices (field survey, 2018)[14]
03
A randomized trial reported that hearing aids improved speech-in-noise recognition by ~2.0 dB SNR on average compared with unaided conditions (trial, 2019)[5]
04
In a systematic review, hearing aids improved aided speech intelligibility by 0.3–0.5 standardized mean deviations vs. unaided hearing (systematic review, 2017)[5]
05
Hearing aid batteries lose about 80% of their usable capacity by 5 years of storage under typical conditions (battery aging study, 2016)[5]
06
Rechargeable hearing aids can provide up to 24 hours of use on a single charge (manufacturer performance specs, 2021)[15]
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics show that modern hearing aids deliver measurable gains in hearing clarity and usability, with speech understanding improving by 88% in quiet, speech in noise averaging about a 2.0 dB SNR benefit, and systematic reviews reporting 0.3 to 0.5 standardized mean deviations over unaided hearing, while rechargeable models can run up to 24 hours per charge.
report visual · Comparison
Hearing difficulty vs. hearing aid use
Many people report difficulty hearing, but far fewer actually use hearing aids.
24.5 million people in the U.S. reported difficulty hearing (2019, estimate)24.5
14.1% of U.S. adults ages 18+ reported “difficulty hearing” (2018)
14.1%
Only 1 in 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them (WHO statement)
5
source-verifiedcdc.gov · who.int2019
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Hearing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hearing-industry-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Hearing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hearing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Hearing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hearing-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
15 sources cited across this report