The Hearing Industries Association
The Hearing Industries Association is a 1955-founded, Washington, DC-based nonprofit trade association representing hearing aid manufacturers and suppliers, advocating on policy, publishing MarkeTrak consumer research, and educating consumers through BetterHearing.org.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Hearing Industries Association does
The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit trade association founded in 1955 that represents hearing aid manufacturers, cochlear implant companies, and adjacent hearing health technology suppliers serving the United States market. HIA's functional mandate spans four pillars: product innovation advocacy, public policy representation (including the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act and OTC hearing aid rulemaking), patient safety standards, and consumer education delivered primarily through BetterHearing.org. The organization does not manufacture or sell products and has no proprietary technology, software, APIs, or AI systems; instead, it operates an Innovation Showcase that surfaces and contextualizes member-company products such as Oticon's BrainHearing platform, Starkey's Genesis AI with on-chip DNN acceleration, ReSound Vivia's neural-network speech processing, Phonak's Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast-enabled Lumity line, Signia's Integrated Xperience multi-stream architecture, and OTC offerings including Jabra Enhance Plus.
HIA's business model is membership dues-funded by its roster of hearing industry manufacturers and suppliers, with no disclosed pricing tiers, commercial product revenue, or consumer-facing monetization. Its commercial surface is indirect: a Find a Professional directory funnels consumer demand toward member-affiliated hearing healthcare professionals (audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and ENTs), and the MarkeTrak research program produces the industry's principal longitudinal consumer tracking dataset on hearing aid adoption and satisfaction. Strategic priorities currently emphasize OTC category expansion, Medicare audiology access reform, and consumer-facing education to address the gap that only one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them, while showcasing AI-differentiated product innovation across member companies.
The Hearing Industries Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hearing Industries Association
- Legal name
- Hearing Industries Association
- Website
- https://betterhearing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Hearing Industries Association is a 1955-founded, Washington, DC-based nonprofit trade association representing hearing aid manufacturers and suppliers, advocating on policy, publishing MarkeTrak consumer research, and educating consumers through BetterHearing.org.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hearing Industries Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Association / Industry Advocacy
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)
Keywords
Where The Hearing Industries Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Hearing Industries Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Hearing Industries Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) is a nonprofit trade association that represents companies involved in the hearing aid and hearing health technology industry. Its core offerings are industry advocacy and policy representation on behalf of hearing aid manufacturers, the MarkeTrak consumer and market research program for the U.S. hearing aid market, and a consumer-facing education website (betterhearing.org) that helps the public understand hearing loss, hearing aids, and find hearing care professionals. HIA does not manufacture or sell hearing aids itself; member companies produce and distribute those products through licensed hearing healthcare professionals and, for OTC devices, retail channels.
Product overview
The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) is a trade association representing hearing aid manufacturers and the hearing health industry. The HIA website (betterhearing.org) serves as an informational and educational resource for consumers about hearing health, hearing loss, and hearing aid technology. The Innovations section showcases new hearing technology products and features from HIA member companies including Oticon, GN (ReSound), Starkey, Phonak, Signia, Widex, Cochlear, and Oticon Medical. The site also provides educational content on hearing health topics, resources for finding hearing care professionals, and industry research such as the MarkeTrak survey. HIA itself is not a product manufacturer and does not offer proprietary software products, APIs, or AI-powered technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MarkeTrak Industry Research Program
- Federal and State Policy Advocacy
- Better Hearing Consumer Education Website (betterhearing.org)
- Hearing Healthcare Professional Locator Directory
- Member Innovations Showcase
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 to 3 of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. have hearing levels outside the normal range
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hearing Industries Association
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Hearing Industries Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature1 record
The Hearing Industries Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- OticoncoreOticon is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Oticon participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- PhonakcorePhonak is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Phonak participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- StarkeycoreStarkey is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Starkey participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- WidexcoreWidex is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Widex participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- SigniacoreSignia is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Signia participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- ReSoundcoreReSound is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, ReSound participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- GN HearingcoreGN Hearing (parent company of ReSound and Beltone) is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, GN participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- AmplifoncoreAmplifon is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Amplifon participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- EarlenscoreEarlens is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Earlens participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- RayovaccoreRayovac is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, Rayovac participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
- ON SemiconductorcoreON Semiconductor is a member company of the Hearing Industries Association. As an HIA member, ON Semiconductor participates in industry advocacy, market research initiatives like MarkeTrak, and benefits from the association's policy representation on hearing healthcare issues.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Hearing Industries Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA): NHCA focuses on noise-induced hearing loss prevention and occupational hearing conservation. It is comparable as a hearing-health-focused organization but addresses prevention rather than treatment, making it a thematically adjacent peer.
- Hearing Health Matters: Hearing Health Matters is an online media publication covering the hearing healthcare industry. While not a trade association, it plays a comparable information-broker role in the hearing ecosystem, sharing industry news, research, and policy coverage with HIA's audience.
Direct peers
- Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): HLAA is the leading US consumer advocacy organization for people with hearing loss. While HIA represents manufacturers and HLAA represents consumers, they operate in the same hearing health advocacy ecosystem, co-engage on policy, and HIA participates in HLAA's annual convention.
- International Hearing Society (IHS): IHS represents hearing instrument specialists and is another trade association in the US hearing healthcare channel. It shares overlapping policy goals with HIA, particularly around provider scope-of-practice legislation.
- Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA): ADA is a US professional association for audiologists focused on autonomous practice and Medicare direct access. It shares HIA's policy interest in expanding audiologist scope of practice and patient access to hearing care.
- American Academy of Audiology (AAA): AAA is the US professional association for audiologists — a key downstream channel for HIA member products. Both organizations operate in the hearing health space with overlapping policy advocacy on Medicare access and provider scope-of-practice issues.
- European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA): EHIMA is the European counterpart trade association for hearing instrument manufacturers, representing many of the same global members as HIA (including GN, Sonova, WS Audiology, Demant). It is the most directly comparable organization in structure, mission, and membership overlap.
Others
- Coalition for Hearing & Balance: Coalitions and ad-hoc advocacy groups in hearing and balance healthcare operate alongside HIA on overlapping policy goals. They are thematically related ecosystem participants rather than direct competitors.
Broad incumbents
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): ASHA is a larger professional association covering audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and broader hearing/speech professionals. It is comparable as a hearing health advocacy body but with a much wider scope and larger organizational footprint than HIA.
Regional players
- British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA): BHAMA is a UK-based trade association for hearing aid manufacturers operating under the British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association framework. It is a regional equivalent to HIA focused on the UK/Ireland market rather than the US.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Hearing Industries Association social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hearing Industries Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hearing Industries Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Hearing Industries Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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The Hearing Industries Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about The Hearing Industries Association
What does The Hearing Industries Association do?
The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) is a nonprofit trade association that represents companies involved in the hearing aid and hearing health technology industry. Its core offerings are industry advocacy and policy representation on behalf of hearing aid manufacturers, the MarkeTrak consumer and market research program for the U.S. hearing aid market, and a consumer-facing education website (betterhearing.org) that helps the public understand hearing loss, hearing aids, and find hearing care professionals. HIA does not manufacture or sell hearing aids itself; member companies produce and distribute those products through licensed hearing healthcare professionals and, for OTC devices, retail channels.
Is The Hearing Industries Association a public or private company?
The Hearing Industries Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Hearing Industries Association founded?
The Hearing Industries Association was founded in 1955. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hearing Industries Association based?
The Hearing Industries Association is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The Hearing Industries Association's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) and Hearing Health Matters. Direct peers are Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), International Hearing Society (IHS), Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA). Coalition for Hearing & Balance is listed as an others. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is listed as a broad incumbent. British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Hearing Industries Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hearing Industries Association.
What industry is The Hearing Industries Association in?
The Hearing Industries Association's product category is Trade Association / Industry Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACANAL, Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices, with a secondary code of EDAFAKAC, Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.