Survey overview
EuroTrak France 2015 was designed and conducted by Anovum on behalf of the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA). The study included a representative screening sample of 14,824 people and detailed interviews with 1,320 people with self-reported hearing loss, comprising 501 hearing aid owners and 819 non-owners.
Hearing loss and adoption
In EuroTrak France 2015, 9.3% of the total population reported hearing loss, compared with 9.4% in 2012. Among adults aged 18 and over, prevalence was 11.4%, compared with 11.5% in 2012.
Hearing aid adoption increased to 34.1% of people with self-reported hearing loss, up from 30.4% in 2012. Among adults with hearing loss, adoption was 33.6%. Among hearing aid owners, 70% had binaural treatment.
Route to hearing care
32% of respondents had undergone a hearing test within the previous five years, with ENT specialists accounting for the largest share of tests.
Among people with self-reported hearing loss, 74% had discussed their hearing loss with an ENT doctor and/or family doctor, while 48% were recommended hearing aids by one of these professionals.
GPs played an important role in the hearing-care pathway: 75% of GP consultations resulted in referral to an ENT and 27% in referral to a hearing aid dispenser. Among ENT consultations, 34% resulted in referral to an audiologist and 39% in a recommendation for no further action.
Hearing aid use and satisfaction
Hearing aids were worn for an average of 8.6 hours per day. 48% of currently owned hearing aids had been acquired within the previous two years, and the average age of devices was 2.9 years.
Overall satisfaction was high, with 84% of hearing aid owners satisfied with their devices. 72% said their hearing aids worked as expected or better.
Users reported positive effects particularly in communication, social life and participation in group activities. 96% said their hearing aids improved their quality of life at least sometimes.
Reimbursement and awareness
81% of hearing aid owners received some form of third-party reimbursement.
Awareness among non-owners was lower. Only 30% believed that a third party would pay at least part of the cost of hearing aids, compared with 32% in 2012.
Barriers to adoption
Among non-owners, the main reasons for not using hearing aids were affordability, having more serious priorities and the opinion of an ENT specialist.
Only 8% of non-owners intended to obtain a hearing aid within the following year, compared with 7% in 2012. Worsening hearing loss and advice from ENT specialists and audiologists were among the most important potential triggers for adoption, while insurance coverage and hearing aid price were particularly important for non-owners.
Overall, EuroTrak France 2015 shows increasing hearing aid adoption and high satisfaction among users, while affordability, competing priorities and professional advice remained important factors influencing non-adoption.
Source: Anovum – EuroTrak France 2015.
