WASHINGTON, DC — According to Hearing Industries Association (HIA) statistics released on Tuesday, total net hearing instrument units dispensed in the United States during the first quarter of 2008 rose by 1.1% (a total of 600,273 units) compared to the same period last year. However, virtually all of this increase came from dispensing activity generated by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which experienced a unit volume increase of 7.3%. The VA constituted 14.6% of the hearing aid market in the first quarter. Private (non-government) sector dispensing was essentially unchanged (0.09%) from the same period last year.

The statistics are mildly disappointing in view of manufacturer reports of relatively good hearing aid sales during January and February. In particular, private-sector dispensing has now remained flat for almost a year, after a nominal (0.45%) increase in the second half of 2007. However, it should be noted that the sales are more encouraging when viewed with respect to the overall US economy. It has also been pointed out that, during times of recession, hearing instrument sales have remained relatively stable compared to the overall economy.

Behind the ear (BTE) hearing instruments continue to increase in importance and popularity. BTEs accounted for 55.0% of all the hearing aids dispensed in the United States during the first quarter, and 56.7% of all hearing aids dispensed in the private (non-VA) sector. By comparison, in 2007, BTEs constituted 51.4% of the overall US market in 2007, and 53.3% in the private sector.

Overall return rates for the first quarter were reported by HIA to be 14.0%.

A more in-depth analysis of these figures will appear in next week's HR Insider.

Source: HIA

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