25+ assistive technology statistics — market size, adoption rates, most common devices, funding sources, and how assistive technology enables independence for older and disabled adults.
Assistive technology — from hearing aids to screen readers to voice assistants — enables millions of older and disabled adults to live more independently. These statistics document the scope, costs, and impact of assistive technology in 2026.
$26.8Bglobal assistive technology market in 2024
— Grand View Research, 2024
$41.2Bprojected by 2028 — driven by aging demographics
— Grand View Research, 2024
1 billionpeople globally who need assistive technology of some kind
— WHO, 2023
17%only 17% of those who need assistive technology actually have access to it
— WHO, 2023
#1hearing aids — 37.5M Americans have hearing loss; 30% use hearing aids
— NIDCD, 2024
#2voice assistants (Alexa, Siri) — used as AT by 43% of adults 65+ with disabilities
— AARP, 2024
#3screen magnification software
— AFB, 2024
#4captioning/subtitling (auto-generated by YouTube, Zoom, etc.)
— NAD, 2024
Real-time captioningAI-powered live captions now available free on Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
— Zoom/Microsoft/Google, 2024
Be My EyesAI visual assistance app serving 7M blind/low-vision users via GPT-4V
— Be My Eyes, 2024
Otter.aiAI transcription used by 2M+ deaf and hard-of-hearing users for real-time transcription
— Otter.ai, 2024
5×improvement in voice recognition accuracy for elderly voices since 2020
— Google AI Research, 2024
$1,000–$5,000typical cost of advanced hearing aids — most not covered by Medicare
— AARP, 2024
Medicarecovers hearing aids under Medicare Advantage plans — 50% of beneficiaries
— CMS, 2024
$5,000+average annual out-of-pocket spending on assistive technology for seniors with multiple needs
— AARP, 2024
2024Hearing Aid Access Act under development to require Medicare Part B coverage
— US Congress, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the assistive technology market?
$26.8B globally in 2024, projected to reach $41.2B by 2028 (Grand View Research). Growth is driven by aging demographics globally and AI making assistive features cheaper and better. The critical context: 1 billion people globally need assistive technology, but only 17% have access to it (WHO).
What are the most widely used assistive technologies?
Hearing aids are #1 (37.5M Americans have hearing loss; 30% use aids). Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri) are increasingly used as AT by older adults with disabilities. AI-powered captioning (free on Zoom/Teams/YouTube) has democratized real-time access. AI visual assistance apps like Be My Eyes serve 7M+ blind and low-vision users.
Are hearing aids covered by Medicare?
Standard Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids — a significant gap given that 30% of adults 65+ have significant hearing loss. Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing aids for about 50% of beneficiaries. The cost is $1,000–$5,000 for advanced models. The Hearing Aid Access Act (in development) would add Medicare Part B coverage.