Global hearing aid market to surpass 31 million units by 2030 with AI integration

A new report by Counterpoint predicts that global prescription hearing aid sales will exceed 31 million units by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 4% between 2025 and 2030. By 2030, nearly half of all hearing aids are expected to feature on-device AI capabilities. AI is set to revolutionize the industry by enabling real-time voice separation and noise suppression, improving speech recognition in complex environments. Phonak’s testing showed AI can boost signal-to-noise ratios by up to 10.2 dB, significantly enhancing communication in noisy settings like restaurants. However, integrating AI into hearing aids presents challenges, including power consumption and device size constraints. Current models, such as Phonak’s Audéo Infinio Ultra Sphere, see their battery life drop from 56 to 10 hours when AI is active. The industry is racing to develop more efficient AI models that balance performance with power efficiency and compact design.