Hearing aid sales dipped Q4 2023 in UK and ROI but year overall was "strong and promising"
Covid and post-Covid hearing instrument sales figures to the end of 2023 in the UK and Ireland have encouraged manufacturers. 2024 could confirm stable growth after spikes provoked by pandemic factors.
Following several years of instability after the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 brought steady numbers and an overall increase in market sales, totalling 2,155,033 units across the UK. This was an increase of 9% from 2022, 60% up from 2021, and a significant 78% increase on 2020.
The British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA) labelled 2023 a “promising high”, despite the small decrease for Q4 against Q3: 12% down in combined markets; 3% in private sales; 14% in NHS sales.
In the Republic of Ireland, hearing instrument market figures were 24,307: this is down 6% on Q3.
“We appreciate that market figures ebb and flow across the year, and while Q4 has shown a small decrease in sales, overall the data is strong and promising. Q3 delivered an unexpected spike in NHS dispensing and we can now see this levelling out,” commented BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge.
“It’s reassuring when reviewing 2023 as a whole to see the bounce back effect post-COVID when so many people’s hearing needs were not met. The positive climb in the volume of devices dispensed shows us that delays and waiting lists that were a consequence of the pandemic are reducing as more people receive the devices they need to tackle their hearing loss,” Surridge continued.
“We know that hearing loss – when untreated – has widespread repercussions on mental health, sleep, career opportunities, confidence, and an individual’s ability to communicate and socialise with those around them. We hope that 2024 continues to show strong growth.”
Download the full Q4 2023 report here.
Source: BIHIMA
