Good news for the hearing aid sector – American indicators are doing well. The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) has just published its 2009 statistics: the private sector increased by 4.91% in 2009 compared to 2008 with a progression of 14.09% during the last quarter of 2009 compared to a decrease of -6.56% for the same period in 2008. Over the course of the decade, sales have gone from 1,728,523 units in 2000 to 2,128,697 in 2009, or an increase of 23.15%.A trend is clear, particular to the American market: the growing distribution role of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). In 2009, the VA dispensed 484,384 hearing aids, an increase of 28.01% compared to 2008. For the past 10 years, the department has seen an increase in its activity by 140% and today represents 18.54% of hearing aids sold in the United States compared to 10.4% in 2000.Altogether, 2009 hearing aid sales in the United States (VA + private sector) increased by 8.54% compared to 2008 with an increase of 16.6% in the last quarter compared to last year. Other optimistic figures: in 2000, sales volume represented two-thirds (65%) the current volume with 1,930,005 units sold compared to 2,613,081 in 2009.The share of BTEs hasn’t stopped increasing in the US since 2007. This category has taken over the lion’s share to the detriment of ITEs that was favored by Americans until now. Today, BTEs represent 64.12% of total sales compared to 57.32% in 2008.Picture: © dwight9592 - Fotolia.com