Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA) released the research into how Australians experiencing hearing loss manage their condition and the impact of hearing aids on their quality of life, as part of the Hearing Awareness Week 2026 (1-7 March).
Australia reports a self-declared hearing loss prevalence of 10.9% of the total population, or 13.1% among adults aged 18 and over. 45% of Australians with hearing loss now use hearing aids, equivalent to 4.9% of the total population. Adoption rises significantly with severity of hearing loss, reaching 73% among those with severe or profound hearing loss.
Key findings:
Most Australians who wear a hearing air take 4-6 years between becoming aware of their hearing loss and obtaining a hearing aid.
- 70% of all hearing aid owners think they should have got their hearing aids sooner. The main reason is missing out on social life and mental/emotional health.
- 96% of hearing aid owners say that their hearing aids improve their quality of life
- 87% of hearing aid owners say their hearing aid works better than or as expected
General Health:
Hearing aid owners have a lower risk of being depressed compared to impaired non-owners with comparable hearing loss. Quality of sleep seems to improve if hearing impaired use hearing aids.
- 36% of all hearing-impaired think that hearing loss could be linked to depression
- 20% were aware that hearing loss could be linked to dementia.
Work Competitiveness:
People with hearing aids recognise that hearing aids increase the chance of hearing impaired getting promoted, getting the right job and a higher salary.
- 82% of the working hearing aid owners said that their hearing aids are useful on their job
- 34% of employed individuals using hearing aids believe the devices enable them to work longer
Quality of Life:
Hearing aids positively impact communication abilities, social participation and more.
- 69% of hearing aid owners feel more confident moving in a city since wearing hearing aids
- 62% of hearing aid owners feel that people never make fun of or reject them because of their hearing aids. It is more likely that somebody makes fun of or rejects a hearing impaired without a hearing aid
Hearing Aid Ownership:
- On average, hearing aids are worn 7.4 hours a day.
- 79% classify their hearing aids as medical devices
- 37% think their hearing aids should be upgraded to the latest technology every 2-3 years
- 75% of hearing aid owners are satisfied with their hearing aids
As Australia continues to strengthen hearing care uptake, the key opportunity lies in closing the gap between need and action: increasing awareness of reimbursement, reducing hesitation around treatment, and ensuring that more people are guided into professional care earlier.
“This survey clearly shows that increasing awareness and improving access to hearing health services for Australians changes lives. But there is more work to be done to destigmatise hearing loss, promote prevention and work with GPs to encourage Australians to prioritise hearing health. There is much in this research for policy makers and providers to reflect and act upon.”
Donna Edman, CEO of the Hearing Care Industry Association, whose mission is to increase access to world-class hearing care for all Australians.
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Australia Trak 2025 was designed and executed by Anovum (Zurich) on behalf of the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) and Australia’s Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA).
