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Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Semin Hear 2025; 46(03): 184-195
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812040
Review Article

Hearing Aid Adoption in the OTC Hearing Aid Era: Market Trends and Consumer Insights from MarkeTrak 2025

Authors

  • Anna Marie Jilla

    1   Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana

  • Lindsey Jorgensen

    2   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
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Abstract

The 2025 iteration of the MarkeTrak survey offers a comprehensive analysis of hearing aid adoption trends in the United States, with a particular focus on the impact of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids introduced in 2022. This study explores evolving consumer behaviors, demographic shifts, and clinical and psychosocial factors influencing hearing aid uptake. Findings reveal a continued increase in overall adoption rates, with OTC devices serving as a critical access point for first-time users—particularly younger, more diverse, and cost-sensitive populations. Despite the affordability and accessibility of OTC devices, traditional hearing aids remain the preferred choice among individuals with more severe hearing loss and those seeking professional support. The report highlights key differences in service delivery, satisfaction, and repurchase intentions between user groups, underscoring the enduring value of professional care. Additionally, the emergence of hearing improvement features in consumer electronics, such as earbuds, signals a broadening of the hearing device landscape. These insights have significant implications for clinical practice, marketing strategies, and policy development, emphasizing the need for flexible, patient-centered care models that accommodate diverse consumer pathways and preferences.

Keywords

hearing aids - OTC - consumer satisfaction


Publication History

Article published online:
09 October 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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