Observed Service Utilization Differences and Audiometric Profiles Among Adults With Hearing Loss in Eastern Coastal Provinces in China

Background and Objectives: : Hearing loss is a major public health concern that hampers communication, social participation, and quality of life. To date, large-scale demographic and audiometric characteristic data for adults seeking hearing care services in China are limited. We aimed to assemble demographic and audiometric profiles for adults requesting hearing care services for the first time in selected eastern coastal provinces of China, with a focus on service- and region-specific patterns in observed service utilization. Subjects and Methods: : This multicenter retrospective study included 2,413 adult first-time patients who initially sought hearing care services between January and June 2025, including 2,242 patients who visited public hospitals and 171 patients who visited private hearing aid clinics. Demographic and audiometric data were extracted from institutional databases. Hearing loss severity was assessed using better-ear four-frequency average hearing loss scores. Differences between groups were analyzed using analysis of variance and chi-square tests. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with hearing loss severity. Results: : Mean patient age was 55.65 years (51.1% were male). Patients attending private hearing aid clinics were significantly older than those visiting public hospitals and had more severe hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss was the most common (56.8%), followed by normal hearing (29.1%), mixed hearing loss (12.4%), and conductive hearing loss (1.7%). Regional differences in sex distribution and hearing loss profiles were observed. Conclusions: : This multicenter retrospective study describes observed service utilization and service-specific audiometric profile differences among adults presenting at selected hearing care institutions in Chinese eastern coastal provinces. Patients attending participating private hearing aid clinics operated by one provider were generally older and had more severe hearing loss, whereas public hospitals received a broader and more heterogeneous patient population. These findings should be interpreted descriptively and may help encourage earlier hearing screening, referral coordination, and integration of diagnostic and rehabilitation-oriented hearing care services.