If you live in Spain and suffer from hearing loss, here’s what you need to know about hearing aids and accessing grants to help pay for them.
Losing your hearing ability either through old age or other circumstances can be very difficult.
It excludes you from many social situations, and many begin to feel withdrawn and left out of familial situations, not able to have a normal conversation with family members anymore.
It becomes very frustrating for you and your family and friends, meaning it’s not just the hearing problem that’s an issue, but it also becomes a social one too.
In Spain, one in three people over the age of 60 suffer from age-related hearing loss, meaning there are around 13 million people that it affects.
According to Alain Afflelou, a European franchise specialising in hearing aids and glasses, 27 percent of hearing aid users are between 35 and 65 years old, so it doesn’t just affect the elderly.
One study on hearing aids revealed that among people with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids, despite needing them, 47 percent admit they would be embarrassed to wear them and 42 percent consider it “not serious enough”.
In addition, 33 percent admit that they have sometimes felt rejected for not being able to hear well.
If you live in Spain and need hearing aids or think you do, here’s what you need to know.
How do I go about getting diagnosed?
Firstly, if you think you may be losing your hearing, it’s important to get checked out by a specialist to find out potentially how much your hearing has decreased by. This may be able to help you access aid if you do need them.
You can either make an appointment with your GP who will refer you to a specialist to give you a hearing test or go directly to a centro auditivo (hearing centre). This is private so you may be able to get seen quicker.
How much do hearing aids cost in Spain?
In Spain, hearing aids are not sold directly from pharmacies, they must be purchased through private centros auditivos or specialised opticians that also deal with hearing aids.
They can cost anywhere between €800 and €4,000 per hearing aid, depending on the type and model you get and the type of package you buy – whether you just buy a pair outright, you pay in instalments or you pay a subscription and get them renewed after a certain number of months.
Can I get hearing aids through the public health service in Spain?
It depends. Spain’s public health system does not offer hearing aids for all adults, it will depend on your age and your situation.
If you are under 26 years old, then it’s likely that your hearing aids will be covered. Individuals under 26 with a permanent bilateral hearing loss greater than 40 dB will be given hearing aids for free through the National Health System.
For adults over 26, there is no general state coverage, but you may be able to get financial aid to help cover the costs?
Where can I get financial help for hearing aids?
The good news is that financial aid is available. The amount of aid you can access though usually depends on the specific region you live in.
It could range from €600 to €3,000, depending on your degree of disability and income level.
For example, according to Sentim Audio Centres, general aid in Murcia in 2025 was €3,000 for the purchase of two hearing aids, for those with a recognised disability of 33 percent or more. In Catalonia, the incapacity benefit covers up to €1,000 per hearing aid. And in Madrid, aid of up to €300 per hearing aid was available.
Other companies list different amounts of aid, however, so it could also depend on the hearing aid provider you choose.
According to Audicost Audífonos, in Andalusia you can get up to €1,500 for in-the-ear hearing aids and €1,200 for behind-the-ear hearing aids, which you can renew every 48-60 months. This is for people who have an hearing disability of more than 33 percent.
In Madrid, they claim you can get up to €1,200 in aid, while in Catalonia they say aid covers up to €2,000.
In Valencia, you may be able to get up to €1,200 if you have bilateral hearing loss greater than 25dB.
How do I get this aid?
To access these subsidies, you must meet a series of requirements that vary depending on the region. Most commonly, you will need an audiological report certifying hearing loss, live in the region where you are requesting the aid, and, in many cases, have a disability certificate of 33 percent or higher.
Some regions prioritise aid for the over 65s or under 27s, while others take into account family income level.
Applications for aid typically open once a year with very short deadlines, sometimes just two weeks, so you will need to apply quickly. It’s worth getting in contact with your local health centre to find out any information they have on this and where to apply as it will be different across the country.
Is there any other other aid I can get?
Yes, potentially. If you don’t qualify for aid through your region, there may be other places that can help.
The Hearing Aid Foundation is a private, non-profit company that offers €420 for hearing loss in one ear and €840 for bilateral hearing loss.
The Fundación ONCE also offers grants if you have disability certificate of greater than 33 percent and are either employed or actively seeking work. They range from €2,500 to €3,000 per device.
Can I get hearing aids through my private health insurer?
This may be possible, but it will depend entirely on which insurance company you have and your individual policy.
Some may be able to cover this if you’ve been with them a certain amount of time, while others may be able to give you discounts if they don’t cover them.
