How many people are affected by hearing loss? What impact does hearing loss have on my health? And what are the social consequences of hearing loss? You can find answers to these and other questions here.

1. Zahlen, Daten, Fakten
zur Hörsystem-
versorgung in
Deutschland
Bundesverband der Hörsysteme-
Industrie e.V.

2. Who is BVHI?
• The Federal Association of the Hearing Systems Industry e.V. (BVHI)
represents the manufacturers of hearing systems on the German market.
• It is the communication body for all topics related to hearing technology.
• The association is committed to increasing the use of hearing aids and
implants by people with hearing loss and educates about the performance of
modern hearing systems.
• In addition, it promotes cooperation with all groups involved in the
provision of hearing systems. These include hearing care professionals, ENT
physicians, health insurance companies, other associations and interest
groups as well as politicians.
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 2

3. How many people are affected by hearing loss?
• 12 percent of German citizens consider their hearing ability to be reduced.
Among adults, the figure is 14 percent.1
• Around 450 million people worldwide are affected by hearing loss – and the
number is growing.2
• Among the different types of hearing loss, presbycusis is the most common.
This is because the performance of the hearing decreases from around the age
age of 50. The reasons are usually the wear and tear of hair cells of the inner
ear, the auditory nerve and the auditory centre.3
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 3

4. What impact does hearing loss have on my health?
• Hearing loss is one of the TOP 5 disease-related burdens on society. Hearing
loss affects quality of life more than vision impairment and loss.4
• People with poorer hearing participate less in social life. Social isolation is
often the result.8
• Untreated hearing loss also has other health consequences. Hearing is central
to the human sense of balance. Hearing loss thus limits the ability to orient
oneself. This increases the risk of falls and injuries: even a slight hearing loss
of only 25dB triples the risk of falling.7
• There is a link between hearing loss and dementia risk. According to the
Lancet Commission, untreated hearing loss in middle age could be the
greatest modifiable risk factor of dementia.9
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 4

5. What are the social consequences of untreated hearing loss?
• 39 billion euros in annual costs are caused by
untreated hearing loss in Germany. In the EU, the
figure is 185 billion euros.4
• The reason for this is lower productivity and quality
quality of life for those affected.4
• These consequences are avoidable. Timely specialist
diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss can help to
reduce the risk of serious health impairments in old
age and the associated follow-up costs.5
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 5

6. How does a hearing system affect my quality of life?
• Hearing-wearers say they live healthier lives:
they report sleeping better, being less exhausted
exhausted and less likely to be depressed than
people with untreated hearing loss.1
• 68 percent of hearing aid users say their ability
to communicate more effectively has noticeably
improved.1
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 6

7. How does a hearing system affect my quality of life?
• 61 percent say their ability to participate in
group activities has improved or improved a lot
with a hearing aid.1
• Two out of three hearing aid users feel safer on
road because traffic sounds and cars are better
perceived.1
• 97 percent say hearing aids improve their quality
of life.1
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 7

8. How are hearing systems users perceived?
• Hearing aid users have better job prospects. On
average, they earn a higher income and are less
likely to be unemployed than untreated hearing-
impaired people.4
• 60 percent of untreated hearing-impaired people
report that they have experienced rejection or
people have made fun of them because of their
hearing loss. In contrast, 71 percent of hearing aid
users report that they do not share this experience.1
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 8

9. How satisfied are hearing systems users?
• 97% of hearing aid users report: "My hearing aids
improve my quality of life".
• Looking back, 60% say: "I should have chosen
hearing aids earlier.“1
• The more often, the better: hearing aids are worn
for an average of 9 hours a day. The newer the
devices and the longer they are worn, the
the satisfaction with them.1
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 9

10. Where can I get a hearing aid?
• Hearing aids are approved and tested medical devices.
They are individually fitted by qualified hearing care
professionals.
• If you want to detect hearing loss in time, you should
have a hearing test with an ear, nose and throat specialist.
If the appropriate conditions are met, he or she will
prescribe hearing aids. In some cases, a hearing implant is
also a possibility.
• In Germany, you can find an ENT doctor in your area, for
example, by using the doctor search of Ihr-
Hoergeraet.de.
• Alternatively, you can also contact a hearing acoustician
in your area, for example via the service of Ihr-
Hörgerät.de.
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 10

11. How many hearing aids are sold per year?
• The demand for professional hearing care is
increasing, both in Germany and internationally.6
• In line with the growing demand for professional
hearing care, the sales figures of BVHI members have
also risen continuously since 2010 (aggregated sales
figures B2B).
• Due to the pandemic, a slight decline was observed in
2020.
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 11
Total Sales Germany
(number of items)
changes comp. to last year
(in percent)
2010 851.000 9,7
2011 887.000 4,2
2012 906.000 2,1
2013 984.000 8,6
2014 1.217.000 23,7
2015 1.169.000 -3,9
2016 1.251.000 7,1
2017 1.255.000 0,3
2018 1.361.000 8,4
2019 1.488.000 9,3
2020 1.442.000 -3,1
Source: Bundesverband der Hörsysteme-Industrie

12. Where can I find more information (in German)?
• European Hearing Instruments Manufacturers Association – https://www.ehima.com/ (English)
• Bundesverband der Hörsysteme-Industrie e.V. – https://bvhi.org/
• Welttag des Hörens 2022 – https://welttag-des-hoerens.de/
• Info-Portal Ihr-Hörgerät.de mit Hörakustiker- und HNO-Arztsuche – https://www.ihr-hoergeraet.de/
• Initiative Hörgesundheit – https://www.initiative-hörgesundheit.de
• Der BVHI @ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/9320469/
• Der BVHI @ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/der_bvhi/
• Der BVHI @ Twitter – https://twitter.com/der_bvhi
• Der BVHI @ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BVHIorg
• Der BVHI @ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58kCJCJNfuQ
Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021 12

13. Sources
1. EHIMA (2018): EuroTrak Germany 2018 (https://www.ehima.com/surveys/).
2. World Health Organization (2019): Deafness and hearing loss: https://www.who.int/news -room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss (last accessed
on 27 March 2019).)
3. Deutscher Berufsverband der Hals-Nasen-Ohrenärzte (2021): Altersschwerhörigkeit (Presbyakusis) (https://www.hno-aerzte-im-
netz.de/krankheiten/schwerhoerigkeit/altersschwerhoerigkeit-presbyakusis.html).
4. Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs. Evaluation of the social and economic costs of hearing impairment, Brun el University London
(https://www.ehima.com/documents/).
5. World Health Organization (2021): World Report on Hearing (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-hearing); Gill Livingston et al.
(2020): Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet Commissions, Vol. 396, Issue 10248, Year 2020
(Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission - The Lancet); Bridget Shield (2019): Hearing Loss – Numbers and
Costs. Evaluation of the social and economic costs of hearing impairment, Brunel University London ( https://www.ehima.com/documents/).
6. EHIMA (2021): Hearing aid sales hit by pandemic in 2020. Demand for hearing care remains unbroken ( https://www.ehima.com/wp-
content/uploads/2021/06/2021_06_01-EHIMA-Press-Release-sales-data-2020.pdf).
7. World Health Organization (2016). Childhood hearing loss: strategies for prevention and care. World Health Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/204632.
8. Löhler J, Cebulla M, Shehata-Dieler W, Volkenstein S, Völter C, Walther LE: Hearing impairment in old age—detection, treatment, and associated risks.
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2019; 116: 301–10. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2019.0301.
9. Hélène Amieva et.al. (2018): Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated with self-reported Hearing Problems: A 25-Years Study; in: The
Journals of Gerontology, Series A, January 2018 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29304204); Gill Livingston et al. (2020): Dementia prevention,
intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet Commissions, Vol. 396, Issue 10248, Year 2020 (Demen tia prevention,
intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission - The Lancet); Elham Mahmoudi et.al. (2019): Can Hearing Aids Delay Time to Diagnosis of
Dementia, Depression, or Falls in Older Adults?; in: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jgs.16109?referrer_access_token=XquZl8LBg_dNCepYNosRFYta6bR2k8jH0KrdpFOxC67g 8tVAtyueNTwl3
EQMx1Uq0FVqvWldQ74-Tk_EBMhLZzLgujhqV44oQCHHq_U0qDoU3FHcOAtOqU-Ylstt7ONzhM36fZBg8NfBfwgfYDt5PA%3D%3D).
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14. Facts & Figures | BVHI | 20.12.2021
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