The VA hearing aid procurement report provides valuable insights into the market share and sales performance of various hearing aid manufacturers. By examining the data from October 2022 to May 2023, we can identify the most popular hearing aid company and most popular hearing aid among veterans and observe the trends in their purchasing patterns. This analysis aims to shed light on the market dynamics and highlight key observations from the data.
Why This Data Matters
The data from the VA hearing aid procurement report holds significant importance as it provides valuable insights into the preferences of over 2000 VA audiologists regarding different hearing aid devices, without the influence of price. This is particularly significant because VA patients do not have to bear the direct cost of their hearing aids, and VA audiologists are not bound by budget constraints when selecting hearing aids for patients.
Therefore, this data allows us to ascertain the true opinions of VA audiologists regarding the performance and quality of various hearing aid devices, without the bias of cost considerations. By analyzing the market share and sales figures of different manufacturers, we can gain valuable insights into the preferred hearing aid choices among VA audiologists, which can ultimately help inform patients and healthcare providers about the best hearing aid options available.
Most Popular Hearing Aid Company
To determine the most popular hearing aid company, we will assess the sales percentage and the number of units sold for each manufacturer.
- Sales Percentage: The sales percentage indicates the market share held by each hearing aid manufacturer. Among the companies listed, the data reveals the following market shares for the respective months:
| Company | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN Resound | 8.40% | 11.11% | 10.47% | 8.79% | 9.87% | 10.09% | 9.80% | 10.05% |
| Oticon | 15.77% | 15.08% | 15.45% | 16.33% | 16.32% | 16.49% | 16.02% | 19.80% |
| Sivantos | 5.04% | 7.27% | 7.26% | 7.05% | 6.81% | 6.96% | 6.70% | 6.30% |
| Sonova/Phonak | 54.08% | 52.10% | 51.66% | 52.78% | 51.69% | 51.10% | 52.80% | 47.75% |
| Starkey | 16.71% | 14.44% | 15.16% | 15.05% | 15.30% | 15.35% | 14.68% | 16.10% |
| Total % | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The data indicates that Sonova/Phonak consistently holds the highest market share, ranging from 47.75% to 54.08% during the analyzed period. However, Oticon also exhibits a strong market presence, consistently securing the second-highest market share, ranging from 15.08% to 19.80%.
- Number of Units Sold: Analyzing the number of units sold provides further insight into the popularity of hearing aid manufacturers among veterans. Here are the units sold for each manufacturer during the analyzed months:
| Company | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN Resound | 6,000 | 8,748 | 7,578 | 8,116 | 7,512 | 8,996 | 7,376 | 8,877 |
| Oticon | 11,927 | 12,591 | 11,824 | 13,551 | 13,141 | 15,582 | 12,774 | 18,583 |
| Sivantos | 5,218 | 5,834 | 5,353 | 5,656 | 5,328 | 6,353 | 5,179 | 5,726 |
| Sonova/Phonak | 38,330 | 40,277 | 36,707 | 40,527 | 38,618 | 44,506 | 38,950 | 41,686 |
| Starkey | 12,235 | 11,660 | 11,224 | 12,049 | 11,913 | 14,044 | 11,291 | 14,541 |
| Total # | 73,710 | 79,110 | 72,686 | 79,899 | 76,512 | 89,481 | 75,570 | 89,413 |
Based on the number of units sold, Sonova/Phonak leads with the highest sales figures in each month, ranging from 36,707 to 44,506 units. Oticon consistently holds the second position, with unit sales ranging from 11,824 to 18,583.
Trends and Observations:
- Sonova/Phonak Dominance: Sonova/Phonak consistently maintains the highest market share and records the highest number of units sold. They are the most popular hearing aid. This indicates their strong position and popularity among veterans.
- Oticon’s Steady Performance: Oticon emerges as the second most popular hearing aid company, displaying consistent market share and unit sales. Their strong performance suggests a reliable and trusted choice among veterans.
- GN Resound’s Moderate Performance: GN Resound holds a moderate market share and unit sales throughout the analyzed period. Although not as prominent as Sonova/Phonak or Oticon, they maintain a steady presence.
- Sivantos’ Relatively Lower Position: Sivantos holds a lower market share and unit sales compared to the leading brands. However, their performance remains consistent, suggesting a niche following among veterans.
- Starkey’s Varied Performance: Starkey exhibits fluctuating market share and unit sales figures. While they hold a significant share in some months, they experience variations, indicating potential shifts in consumer preferences.
The data from the VA hearing aid procurement report reveals that Sonova/Phonak stands as the most popular hearing aid company among veterans, consistently securing the highest market share and recording the highest number of units sold. Oticon follows closely in the second position, displaying a consistent and reliable performance. Understanding these trends provides valuable insights into the hearing aid market dynamics, aiding manufacturers, healthcare providers, and veterans in making informed decisions regarding hearing aid procurement and usage.
Breaking Down the Data into Individual Products
Trends and Analysis for Rechargeable RICs
Rechargeable RICs are the most popular hearing aids in the market today. In fact the VA ordered of 194 million dollars in these hearing aids in the last 8 months.
| Company | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN Resound | 9.41% | 10.47% | 10.18% | 9.79% | 9.52% | 9.95% | 9.61% | 9.90% |
| Oticon | 19.14% | 17.73% | 18.42% | 18.78% | 19.42% | 19.47% | 18.90% | 23.14% |
| Sivantos | 6.09% | 6.68% | 6.92% | 6.66% | 6.39% | 6.70% | 6.12% | 5.96% |
| Sonova/Phonak | 60.83% | 60.95% | 60.22% | 60.72% | 60.46% | 59.79% | 61.71% | 54.70% |
| Starkey | 4.54% | 4.18% | 4.25% | 4.05% | 4.21% | 4.08% | 3.66% | 6.31% |
Analyzing the trends for rechargeable Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids based on the provided data, the following observations can be made:
- GN Resound: GN Resound’s market share ranges from 9.41% to 10.47% throughout the analyzed period. Their market share shows minor fluctuations without a clear trend. Overall, GN Resound maintains a moderate market share for rechargeable RICs.
- Oticon: Oticon exhibits a relatively stable market share, with a range of 17.73% to 23.14%. There is a notable increase in their market share in February and March, followed by a slight decline in April. Oticon shows a positive trend, gaining popularity for rechargeable RICs over the analyzed period.
- Sivantos: Sivantos holds a consistent but relatively lower market share, ranging from 5.96% to 6.92%. Their market share remains relatively stable, showing minor fluctuations throughout the period.
- Sonova/Phonak: Sonova/Phonak dominates the market for rechargeable RICs, consistently holding a high market share ranging from 54.70% to 61.71%. Their market share shows some variation, but no clear trend can be observed over the analyzed months.
Overall, Sonova/Phonak holds the highest market share for rechargeable RICs, indicating a strong presence in the market. Oticon shows positive growth and increased popularity (especially after they released the REAL line of hearing aids), while GN Resound and Sivantos hold moderate to lower market shares.
Which hearing aid company has the most popular ITE battery-powered device?
| Company | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN Resound | 9.97% | 9.49% | 9.93% | 9.27% | 9.51% | 9.03% | 8.88% | 8.21% |
| Oticon | 4.19% | 11.26% | 9.35% | 9.74% | 9.19% | 9.61% | 9.46% | 9.77% |
| Sivantos | 1.69% | 2.05% | 2.26% | 2.48% | 2.11% | 1.84% | 2.43% | 1.94% |
| Sonova/Phonak | 57.29% | 51.33% | 51.71% | 51.73% | 51.81% | 51.06% | 52.24% | 53.01% |
| Starkey | 26.85% | 25.88% | 26.75% | 26.78% | 27.38% | 28.46% | 26.99% | 27.07% |
| Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Key Takeaways
- Sonova/Phonak: Sonova/Phonak dominates the market with a consistently high market share, ranging from 51.06% to 57.29%. Their market share remains relatively stable throughout the period, indicating a strong and consistent preference among users.
- Starkey: Starkey holds a significant market share, ranging from 25.88% to 28.46%. Their market share exhibits a slight upward trend over time, suggesting a growing popularity among users.
Overall, Sonova/Phonak consistently holds the highest market share, indicating their strong market presence and popularity. Starkey also maintains a significant market share, showing an upward trend. GN Resound and Oticon have relatively lower market shares, with Oticon experiencing some fluctuations. Sivantos holds a consistently low market share throughout the analyzed period.
Which Hearing Aid Company Has the Most Popular ITE Rechargeable Device?
| Company | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN Resound | 15.09% | 11.34% | 12.56% | 10.86% | 10.59% | 10.15% | 10.89% | |
| Sivantos | 16.98% | 14.61% | 13.54% | 12.17% | 12.36% | 11.87% | 12.90% | 11.36% |
| Starkey | 83.02% | 70.30% | 75.12% | 75.27% | 76.78% | 77.53% | 76.95% | 77.75% |
| Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Analyzing the data for rechargeable In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids from the given months, we can observe the following trends and insights:
- GN Resound: GN Resound’s market share ranges from 10.15% to 15.09% throughout the analyzed period. There is a slight downward trend in their market share, starting with a peak in October (right when they released a new product) and gradually decreasing over the subsequent months. However, their market share remains relatively stable overall.
- Sivantos: Sivantos shows a fluctuating market share, ranging from 11.36% to 16.98%.
- Starkey: Starkey dominates the market for rechargeable ITE hearing aids, consistently holding a high market share ranging from 70.30% to 83.02%. Their market share remains relatively stable, indicating a strong preference for Starkey among users of rechargeable ITE hearing aids.
Overall, Starkey emerges as the leading player in the market for rechargeable ITE hearing aids, consistently holding the highest market share. GN Resound holds a moderate market share, while Sivantos fluctuates within a certain range without a clear trend.
These trends suggest that Starkey has established itself as a preferred choice among users seeking rechargeable ITE hearing aids. GN Resound maintains a relatively stable position, while Sivantos shows fluctuations without a clear pattern. These insights can help inform users and healthcare providers in their decision-making process when selecting rechargeable ITE hearing aids.
Conclusion
I could spend all day sharing data about what hearing aids the VA buys. But I think the data largely speaks for itself. If you would like to explore the data more, it is available here and is updated monthly.
Overall we can see the Phonak are the most popular hearing aids in all categories except for rechargeable custom hearing aids where Sarkey wins. Oticon is the second most popular brand of hearing aids.
Interesting facts
How much the VA spends on hearing aids a month?
| Sales | OCT 2022 | NOV 2022 | DEC 2022 | JAN 2023 | FEB 2023 | MAR 2023 | APR 2023 | MAY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Sales | $34,310,404.79 | $37,677,620.97 | $34,711,419.75 | $38,212,241.86 | $36,591,333.97 | $42,933,918.79 | $36,251,279.56 | $42,719,323.97 |