Objectives : This data-driven study aimed to explore the characteristics and initial hearing aid (HA) fitting parameters among older adults in Mainland China. Methods : Data were extracted from Oticon's internal database, focusing on 82,834 older adults aged 55 or above who sought HAs for the first time.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Findings may inform fitting protocols and counseling expectations for first-time hearing aid users in China, but clinicians outside China should interpret carefully given likely differences in audiological profiles, healthcare access, and cultural factors.
China represents one of the world's largest and fastest-growing hearing aid markets, and real-world fitting data from first-time users can benchmark best practices and highlight under-served populations.
- 01Data sourced from Oticon clinical records — a manufacturer-affiliated dataset, which may introduce selection bias.
- 02Focused on first-time hearing aid users aged 65+ (older adults) in mainland China.
- 03Describes demographic characteristics and initial fitting parameters (e.g., gain, frequency settings).
- 04Published in Audiology Research (2026); PMID 42201117.
- 05Real-world data study; findings are descriptive and specific to the Chinese market context.
First-time older adult hearing aid users in mainland China have identifiable demographic and audiological characteristics that influence initial fitting parameters.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42201117
- DOI
- 10.3390/audiolres16030063.
- Journal
- Audiology Research
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Older adults seeking hearing aids for the first time in mainland China
- Intervention
- First-time hearing aid fitting
Primary outcomes
Demographic characteristics of first-time users; Initial hearing aid fitting parameters