Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.
2025 Mar;68(3):94-104. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2024.00311.
Part 2. Current Status of Hearing Disability and Hearing Rehabilitation Devices in Korea Using National Data: NHIS-Database, 2010 to 2020
- Lee J
1,2 - Yoon CY1,2
- Kim J1,2
- Jin IK3
- Suh MJ4
- Cho WH5
- Lee HJ6
- Choi SJ7
- Cha D8,9
- Park KH10
- Oh SH11,12
- Seo YJ1,13
- Kong TH12,13
- Affiliations
-
- 1Research Institute of Hearing Enhancement, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
- 2Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
- 3Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Research Institute of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea
- 4Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
- 5Division of Physical Metrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards & Science, Daejeon, Korea
- 6Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
- 7Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea
- 8Healthcare Lab, Naver Corporation, Seongnam, Korea
- 9Healthcare Lab, Naver Cloud Corporation, Seongnam, Korea
- 10Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- 11Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Hallym Univesity of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea
- 12Hallym University of Graduate Studies Center for Hearing and Speech Research, Seoul, Korea
- 13Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
- KMID: 2565890
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2024.00311
Abstract
- Background and Objectives
This study aims to analyze trends in hearing disability and the use of hearing rehabilitation devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants) in South Korea over the past 11 years (2010-2020) using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
Subjects and Method
Data were extracted from the NHIS database, covering approximately 97% of the South Korean population. Patients diagnosed with hearing loss were classified using ICD-10 codes. The data were analyzed to determine trends in hearing disability, hearing aid prescriptions, and cochlear implant usage by age, gender, and types and causes of hearing loss.
Results
The number of hearing disability patients increased from 170900 in 2010 to 362738 in 2020, with an annual growth rate of 7.95%. The highest increase was observed in the ≥60 age group, with an annual growth rate of 11.04%. Hearing aid prescriptions rose from 4966 in 2010 to 11974 in 2020, showing a 10.45% annual increase. Females showed a higher growth rate in both hearing disability and hearing aid prescriptions compared to males. Cochlear implant prescriptions also increased, particularly among older adults.
Conclusion
The study highlights a significant rise in hearing disability and the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants in South Korea, especially among the elderly. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for hearing loss and the need for policy improvements to enhance accessibility and affordability of hearing rehabilitation services. Additional strategies are needed to ensure appropriate hearing rehabilitation for those not yet receiving adequate care.
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