Survey overview
EuroTrak Germany 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 13,775 people and detailed interviews with 1,304 people with self-reported hearing loss, comprising 505 hearing aid owners and 799 non-owners.
Hearing loss and adoption
In EuroTrak Germany 2015, 12.1% of the total population reported hearing loss, compared with 12.5% in 2012. Among adults aged 18 and over, prevalence was 13.9%, compared with 14.3% in 2012.
Hearing aid adoption increased to 34.9% of people with self-reported hearing loss, up from 34.0% in 2012. Among adults with hearing loss, adoption was 35.0%. Among hearing aid owners, 75% had binaural treatment.
Route to hearing care
45% of respondents had undergone a hearing test within the previous five years, compared with 47% in 2012, with most tests carried out by ENT specialists.
Among people with self-reported hearing loss, 79% had discussed their hearing loss with an ENT doctor and/or family doctor, while 50% were recommended hearing aids by one of these professionals.
GPs primarily acted as a referral point: 67% of GP consultations resulted in referral to an ENT, while 12% resulted in a recommendation for no further action. Among ENT consultations, 35% resulted in referral to an audiologist and 39% in no further action.
Hearing aid use and satisfaction
Hearing aids were worn for an average of 8.7 hours per day, up from 8.0 hours in 2012. 45% of currently owned hearing aids had been acquired within the previous two years, and the average age of devices was 2.9 years.
Overall, 77% of hearing aid owners were satisfied with their devices, unchanged from 2012. 87% said their hearing aids worked as expected or better. Satisfaction was higher among people who wore their hearing aids for longer each day and among those with newer devices.
Users reported positive effects particularly in communication, participation in group activities and sense of safety. 98% said their hearing aids improved their quality of life at least sometimes.
Reimbursement and awareness
Third-party reimbursement was widespread: 92% of hearing aid owners received full or partial reimbursement, with 30% receiving full reimbursement and 62% receiving partial reimbursement.
Awareness among non-owners was much lower: only 39% believed that a third party would cover at least some of the cost, while 50% did not know and 11% believed there would be no reimbursement.
Barriers to adoption
Among non-owners, the main reasons for not using hearing aids were believing they could still hear well enough, feeling that hearing loss was not severe enough, and concerns about discomfort.
19% of non-owners intended to obtain a hearing aid within the following year, up from 13% in 2012. Worsening hearing loss and advice from ENT specialists, hearing care professionals and spouses were among the most important potential influences on adoption. Insurance coverage and hearing aid price were particularly important for non-owners.
Overall, EuroTrak Germany 2015 shows a modest increase in hearing aid adoption alongside high satisfaction, substantial daily use and strong reported quality-of-life benefits. Perceived need and discomfort remained important barriers among non-owners.
Source: Anovum – EuroTrak Germany 2015.
