One-in-nine Europeans say they have a hearing loss
The organisation EHIMA (European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association) have carried out an investigation in a number of European countries in 2015 concerned with the spread of hearing loss and the use of hearing aids. The study shows that around one-in-nine people over the age of 18 believe that they have a hearing loss.
The studies, which has the common name EuroTrak, was carried out in 2015 in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland. In each country, 14,000-15,000 people participated in the studies.
The four countries
In Germany, 13.9% of those over 18 questioned said that they had a hearing loss. In 2012, this number was 14.3% and in 2009, it was 15.1%
In the United Kingdom, 11.7% of those participating in the study believed that they had a hearing loss. In 2012, the figure was 10.7% and in 2009, it was 11.5%
In the French EuroTrak study, 11.4% believed that they had a hearing loss in 2015. In 2012 and 2009, the figures were 11.5% and 12.7% respectively.
Finally, the figures from Switzerland showed that 9.5% of the participants over 18 in 2015 believed that they had a hearing loss. In the study carried out in 2012, the figure was 10.5%
As the age rises, so does the figure
The number of people who have a hearing loss rises with age. The study shows that around one-in-five between the ages of 65 and 74 believe that they have a hearing loss. Among those over 74, around a third say that they have a hearing loss.
More elderly in Germany
That there are more elderly people in Germany than in other countries who say they have a hearing loss is because there are relatively more elderly people in Germany than in the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland.
If you carry out hearing tests on a range of people, you will see that more than one-in-nine have a hearing loss. Experience shows that it is therefore closer to one-in-six or one-in-seven who in actuality have a hearing loss.
EHIMA’s EuroTrak study was carried out in cooperation with the Swiss analysis firm Anovum.
Source: European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, www.ehima.com/documents/