MED-EL (Medical Electronics) ist in den 1970er Jahren aus einem Forschungsprojekt an der Universität Wien zur elektrischen Stimulation von Nervensträngen und Klangverarbeitungstechnologien entstanden. Daraus wurde das erste mikroelektronische, mehrkanalige Cochlea-Implantat, das Ärzte im Dezember 1977 in Wien implantierten. MED-EL bietet eine breite Produktpalette im Bereich implantierbarer und implantationsfreier Hörlösungen für alle Arten und Grade von Hörverlust an.

Der Bundesverband der Hörgeräte-Industrie (BVHI) ist die Vertretung der auf dem deutschen Markt tätigen Hersteller von Hörsystemen. Er artikuliert die Interessen seiner Mitglieder und ist das Kommunikationsorgan für alle Themen rund um Hörtechnologie, Hörminderung und Innovation. Der Verband setzt sich für die Erhöhung der Nutzung von Hörgeräten und Hörimplantaten sowie digitaler Services durch Menschen mit einer Hörminderung ein und klärt über die Leistungsfähigkeit moderner Hörsysteme auf.

MED-EL: Working Together to Provide Optimal Care for Hearing Loss

MED-EL Germany is the first hearing implant manufacturer to become a member of the BVHI

With MED-EL’s membership, the member companies of the Federal Association of the Hearing Aid Industry (BVHI) cover the entire range of hearing systems—from hearing aids to cochlear implants.

At a Glance

MED-EL Becomes the First Hearing Implant Manufacturer to Join the BVHI
BVHI Will Operate Under a New Name Going Forward
Data on hearing aid fitting in Germany

“When hearing loss can no longer be addressed even with high-tech hearing aids, a cochlear implant is a possible next step. With the addition of MED-EL, the BVHI’s member companies now cover the entire range of hearing systems—from initial treatment of early-stage hearing loss to cochlear implants,” says Dr. Stefan Zimmer, Chairman of the BVHI, expressing his delight at the association’s new member. The BVHI is expanding the Ihr-Hoergeraet.de platform to include comprehensive information and counseling on hearing implants—from diagnosis to implantation—and is presenting the various options available.

MED-EL – Customized Hearing Solutions

MED-EL (Medical Electronics)
originated in the 1970s from a research project at the University of Vienna focused on the electrical stimulation of nerve tracts and sound processing technologies. This led to the development of the first microelectronic, multichannel cochlear implant
, which was first implanted in Vienna in December 1977. Today, MED-EL is headquartered in Innsbruck and operates in 124 countries worldwide. The company offers a broad range of implantable and non-implantable hearing solutions for all types and degrees of hearing loss. Over 95 percent of its hearing implants are exported and used by more than 3,700 clinics worldwide.

Hearing implants complement the hearing aid portfolio

To provide optimal care for hearing loss, hearing aid manufacturers working within the BVHI association aim to educate people with hearing loss about the various technical hearing solutions and the best individualized care options. With MED-EL’s membership, the portfolio of hearing systems offered by BVHI member companies is expanded to include cochlear implants. MED-EL manufactures Active, a system for electroacoustic stimulation, as well as both implantable and non-implantable bone conduction systems.

Data on Hearing Aid Fitting in Germany

12 percent of German citizens consider their hearing to be impaired (Source: EuroTrak Germany, 2018)
37 percent of them wear hearing aids (Source: EuroTrak Germany, 2018)
The annual cost of untreated hearing loss in Germany amounts to 39 billion euros (Source: Hearing Loss – Numbers and Costs, 2019)
Expanding hearing aid provision helps to sustainably reduce these costs as well as the risks of secondary health conditions.

BVHI Will Operate Under a New Name Going Forward

With MED-EL as a new member, the BVHI members have also decided to rename the association; going forward, “hearing aids” in the name will be replaced by “hearing systems.” “By replacing the term ‘device’ with ‘system,’ we are, on the one hand, reflecting the terminology that is increasingly common in the industry. Furthermore, we are highlighting the expertise of the association and its members in all areas of technical and systemic hearing care, which include not only hearing aids but also digital solutions, among other things,” explains Dr. Stefan Zimmer.

BVHI: Providing Optimal Care for Hearing Loss

The Federal Association of the Hearing Aid Industry represents manufacturers of hearing systems operating in the German market. It advocates for the interests of its members and serves as the communication channel for all topics related to hearing technology, hearing loss, and innovation. The association advocates for increasing the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and digital services among people with hearing loss and provides information about the capabilities of modern hearing systems.

A hearing test can predict speech comprehension with a cochlear implant. For individuals considering the procedure, this provides additional guidance in making a decision. You can learn more about this in our article “Cochlear Implants: Predicting Speech Comprehension.”

Working Together to Provide Optimal Care for Hearing Loss