This week, the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA) released data on hearing instrument usage in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) for the first quarter of 2023. The data reveals a record high in the past four years, indicating a positive trend in the market.
After experiencing a significant decline during the pandemic, the hearing instrument market is showing signs of improvement. In the UK, private hearing instrument units have grown by 12.4% compared to the previous quarter and 1.4% compared to the same period last year. This quarter marks the highest sales volume in the past four years.
Highlights:
- UK market units have grown 1.4% compared to Q1 2022 and 12.4% on Q4 2022
- NHS market size up 19.1% compared to Q1 2022 and up 15% on Q4 2022
- Irish market up 7% over Q1 2022 and 14.7% over the previous quarter
BIHIMA Chairman, Paul Surridge, expressed his satisfaction with the latest data, highlighting the importance of increased hearing instrument sales in providing necessary support for people with hearing loss.
“It’s always good news to see substantial rises in hearing instrument sales – it means that people are getting the support they need for hearing loss. We know that hearing instrument usage has a huge impact on people’s mental health, work opportunities, confidence, and relationships with those around them. This increase in the market data is incredibly reassuring.”
The National Health Service (NHS) units also experienced a steady increase, with volumes up by 19.1% compared to Q1 2022 and 15% compared to Q4 2022. This quarter represents the largest volume of sales in the previous four years, potentially driven by increased adoption of hearing instruments at the end of the NHS tender period. While volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels, there is still a significant loss from the 2020/2021 period that needs to be recovered.
The Irish hearing market has also shown encouraging growth, with a 7% increase in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year and a 14.7% increase compared to the previous quarter.
“The latest results are encouraging. The increase in volumes mean that not only are more people seeking support, but also that the post-pandemic delays in people receiving the care and treatment they needed are being reduced,” commented Surridge. “BIHIMA is optimistic that volumes will continue to rise and the market will recover the losses accrued during the COVID-19 period.”
Download the full Q1 report here.
About BIHIMA
BIHIMA represents the hearing instrument manufacturers of Britain and Ireland, working in partnership with other professional, trade, regulatory and consumer organisations within the health care and charitable sectors. We raise consumer awareness about the latest hearing technology and aim to influence government and policy makers to improve the lives of people with hearing difficulties.
Source: BIHIMA
