This study used nationwide insurance claims data to assess the effect of changes in the hearing aid provision scheme on annual trends in numbers of newly-registered hearing disabled and numbers of hearing aid subsidies paid. It found that the annual number of newly registered hearing disabled increased slightly and then decreased during periods of insufficient hearing aid subsidy (from 2004 to 2014) and rose dramatically in response to a substantial increase in the hearing aid subsidy (from 2015). In addition, the proportion of individuals with newly-registered hearing disabilities who received hearing aid subsidies increased to 85.3% in response to the large increase in hearing aid subsidy in 2015.
To our knowledge, this is the first official study to assess behavior regarding hearing aid adoption using a national population database. The results indicate that a realistic hearing aid provision policy can facilitate rehabilitation behavior in individuals with hearing disability.
Hearing loss is the most common chronic condition in older individuals. The number of individuals worldwide with hearing loss is projected to reach 2.45 billion by 2050, a 56.1% increase from 201911. Unaddressed hearing loss and inadequate hearing rehabilitation reduce quality of life in multiple ways, especially in terms of cognitive function11, and recognition of the social burden of hearing loss has grown. To alleviate the ill effects associated with hearing loss and its sequalae, hearing aid provision in an audiology clinic is the customary management procedure12. Despite the high prevalence of hearing impairment in old age, only a limited proportion of the hearing loss population who could potentially benefit from a hearing aid report current use of a hearing aid13.14. In the United States, approximately three-quarters of individuals with hearing loss cannot afford a hearing aid8. A Korean population study showed that only 17.4% of individuals with bilateral moderate to profound hearing loss purchased a hearing aid, and only about 73% of those individuals used the hearing aid regularly14. The importance of the diagnosis and management of hearing loss tends to be underestimated, especially in developing countries11.
The mean cost of a pair of fitted hearing aids ranged from $2,200 to $7,000 in 2014, and consumer reports show that the average price for a pair of hearing aids was $4,860 in 202115.16. The hearing aid market is controlled by a limited number of companies, and the price of hearing aids is rather high and considered a first barrier to hearing aid adoption15.17. In other words, insurance coverage is a significant driver of hearing aid adoption18. According to data on welfare provisions for persons with disabilities, the South Korean government has been subsidizing a portion of the cost of 5-yearly purchase of hearing aids since 1997. The amount of the hearing aid subsidy increased from 250,000 won (about $200) to 340,000 won (about $300) in 2005 and was then tripled to 1,130,000 won (about $1,000) at the end of 2015.
A previous large study in South Korea examined the 10-year trend in the number of individuals who registered with profound hearing disability from 2006 to 201519. It demonstrated that the trend of hearing loss showed a gradual decrease from 2010 to 201519. In the present study, consonant with that report, the number of newly-registered individuals with hearing disability decreased from 2009 to 2013 (Fig. 2A). The decline in the number of newly-registered hearing disabled might be explained by assuming that most of those motivated by the second subsidy level ($300) may well have completed registration within the first 5 years.
However, we found that the number of newly-registered hearing disabled increased abruptly from 2015 at the same time as the level of the hearing aid subsidy increased. This finding suggests that the price of hearing aids has a major effect on hearing aid adoption in South Korea. Another interesting point is that the previous study may have underestimated the actual number of individuals with hearing loss, since there are likely to have been many unregistered individuals with hearing loss before a more substantial hearing aid subsidy was introduced19. To be registered as hearing disabled in Korea, three pure tone audiometry tests and an auditory brainstem response test must be completed, and the cost of these auditory tests is about $250 ~ $300. Given that the cost of assessment approximated the hearing aid subsidy prior to 2015, there was little incentive for individuals with hearing loss to register as hearing disabled. Moreover, the actual value of the hearing aid subsidy would have decreased continuously during 2004–2014 if inflation was taken int account.
The present study also examined the annual trend of severity among newly registered hearing disabled from 2004 to 2018. The frequency of hearing disability grades 2 and 3, indicating profound hearing loss, among the newly-registered hearing disabled gradually decreased, while the proportion of individuals with severe hearing loss (disability grades 4 and 5) increased (Fig. 3). The mean age of newly registered individuals with hearing disability gradually increased from 2004 to 2015 and increased significantly thereafter (Fig. 5), implying that many older individuals with hearing loss had not registered before 2015. In addition, the mean time from disability registration to hearing aid adoption decreased greatly (Fig. 6), which suggests that the main purpose of disability registration might usefully be changed to the adoption of a hearing aid rather than to receipt of other social benefits for hearing disability.
This study demonstrated that reducing the cost to consumers/patients for hearing aids by expanding the hearing aid subsidy increased uptake in individuals with hearing loss who could benefit from a hearing aid. We identified an immediate increase in uptake of hearing aids following the expansion of hearing aid subsidies (Fig. 4). However, there are many other kinds of barriers to hearing aid adoption besides the price issue20. In Iceland, the national health insurance scheme fully covers hearing aid purchase every 4 years, but only 11% of those with hearing loss use hearing aids21. This low hearing aid adoption rate can be explained by the complexity of the factors underlying hearing aid use. Hearing aid adoption is influenced by an intricate interaction between personality, perceived social value, and social stigma20.22.
Several studies have attempted to quantify the financial results of hearing loss23. A retrospective cohort study in the United States found that the benefit of hearing aid adoption in individuals self-reporting hearing loss was identified as reducing the probability of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and decreased Medicare spending17. However, use of a hearing aid led to increased office visits, and more total health care spending and out-of-pocket costs17. Another study proposed that the provision of hearing aids eventually adds value to the health care system and provides net savings to the Medicare program24. After 2015, individuals with severe to profound hearing loss could receive a hearing aid subsidy covering the cost of a single hearing aid under the South Korean national insurance system. It will be important to monitor whether expansion of the hearing aid provision scheme reduces the loss of quality of life associated with hearing disability in terms of access to the medical system and leads to a reduction of overall medical expenses, and this information should be reflected in any future changes to hearing aid provision. Lastly, hearing aid adoption does not necessarily imply regular use of the hearing aid14.25. Proper hearing aid fitting and checking, as well as counseling are important in establishing an appropriate and effective hearing rehabilitation environment26.
This study has the strength of using national population data to investigate annual trends in numbers of newly-registered hearing disabled in response to changes in hearing aid provision. It successfully identified changes in hearing aid adoption according to the level of financial support. The study also has limitations, mostly related to the characteristics of the claims data, since they do not include physical examination data such as tympanic membrane status and exact hearing level. Also, since the national hearing disability registration scheme only includes individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, the present study could not assess the use of hearing aids by individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. These limitations could be overcome in future by including additional large sources of medical data.
In conclusion, expansion of the Korean hearing aid provision scheme resulted in a dramatic increase in hearing disability registration and hearing aid adoption, indicating that there was much unregistered or unaddressed hearing loss prior to the introduction of realistic hearing aid provision.
