The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) represents the major European hearing instrument manufacturers, offering smart hearing aid and implant solutions for people hard of hearing.

EHIMA was founded in 1985 and its members are among the world’s largest and most advanced hearing instrument manufacturers, producing up to 90% of the hearing instruments manufactured in Europe.

Members of EHIMA develop, manufacture and market hearing instruments on a large scale in one or more countries in Europe as well as exporting their products worldwide.

Meetings of hearing aid manufacturers at European level started in 1983. Two years later, European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) was founded legally in 1985. It is an Association internationale sans but lucratif (AISBL) under Belgian law.

EHIMA-members initiated the foundation of the Hearing Instrument Manufacturers’ Software Association (HIMSA) in 1993. The aim was to develop, promote and support Noah – one standard for integrated hearing care software.

For many years now, EHIMA partners with World Health Organization (WHO) and organizes an annual advocacy event on the prevention of hearing loss and to promote hearing care. Since 2016, the event is known as World Hearing Day on 3 March.

With hearing implant manufacturer MED-EL joining EHIMA in 2019, the association’s scope extended from hearing aids to hearing instruments.