Survey overview
JapanTrak 2012 was designed and conducted by Anovum on behalf of the Japan Hearing Instruments Manufacturers Association (JHIMA). The study included a representative screening sample of 15,036 people and detailed interviews with 1,348 people with self-reported hearing loss, comprising 450 hearing aid owners and 898 non-owners.
Hearing loss and adoption
In JapanTrak 2012, 10.9% of the total population reported hearing loss, rising to 12.8% among adults aged 18 and over.
Hearing aid adoption was 14.1% among people with self-reported hearing loss and also 14.1% among adults with hearing loss. Bilateral hearing loss was reported by 76% of hearing aid owners and 60% of non-owners.
Route to hearing care
49% of respondents had undergone a hearing test within the previous five years.
Among people with self-reported hearing loss, 40% had discussed their hearing loss with an ENT doctor and/or family doctor, but only 13% were recommended hearing aids by one of these professionals.
The survey identified considerable drop-off in the medical pathway. 51% of GP consultations resulted in a recommendation for no further action, as did 66% of ENT consultations. By contrast, 96% of audiologist consultations resulted in a recommendation to obtain a hearing aid.
Hearing aid use and satisfaction
Hearing aids were worn for an average of 5.7 hours per day. 59% of currently owned hearing aids had been fitted in 2009 or later, and the average age of devices was 3.5 years. The median age before replacement was four years.
Overall, 36% of hearing aid owners were satisfied with their devices. Satisfaction was higher among people who wore their hearing aids for longer each day and among users whose devices had been purchased in 2010 or later.
Users reported positive effects particularly in sense of safety, communication effectiveness and feelings about themselves. Hearing aid ownership was also associated with a lower reported risk of depression and forgetfulness.
Government support and awareness
12% of hearing aid owners reported that some or all of their hearing aid cost was paid by the government.
Awareness among non-owners was very limited: only 6% said they knew the government system for supplying hearing aids, while 94% did not.
Barriers to adoption
Among non-owners in the top 50% hearing-loss group, the leading reasons for not having a hearing aid included discomfort, feeling that hearing loss was not severe enough, and believing that hearing aids would not restore hearing to normal. Difficulty in noisy situations and believing they could still hear well enough were also important barriers.
The survey also found that 12% of hearing aid owners did not use their devices at all. Important reasons for non-use included discomfort, poor performance in noisy situations, previous unsuccessful experience with hearing aids and the expectation that hearing aids should restore hearing to normal.
Only 4% of non-owners intended to obtain a hearing aid within the following year. Worsening hearing loss, advice from ENT specialists and encouragement from significant others were among the most important potential influences; GP advice was also relevant for non-owners.
Overall, JapanTrak 2012 shows 14.1% hearing aid adoption, relatively modest satisfaction and daily use among owners, and important barriers involving comfort, perceived need, expectations of hearing-aid performance and limited awareness of government support.
Source: Anovum – JapanTrak 2012.
Download Japan Trak 2012 here.
