Diversity data: hearing aid dispensers - March 2023

Diversity data factsheet: Hearing aid dispensers

• Age

  Question asked:
  "What was your date of birth"
  
  Note:
  This was used to calculate current age at the point of production of this factsheet.

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Age	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	95	0%
  Recorded	3,925	100%	320,515	100%
  20-29	780	20%	50,615	16%
  30-39	1,360	35%	97,400	30%
  40-49	705	18%	83,735	26%
  50-59	635	16%	61,345	19%
  60-69	385	10%	24,225	8%
  70+	60	2%	3,195	1%
  	3,925	100%	320,515	100%

  

• Disability

  Question asked:
  "Do you consider yourself to have a disability or to be a disabled person?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal:
  In the UK, a disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term* adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities" You may have none, one, or more conditions that you believe are covered by this definition. Please answer how you feel this definiton applies to you. (*long-term means that the impact has lasted, or is expected to last, for 12 months or more)
  
  Note:
  HCPC does collect further data on long term conditions, however the protected characteristic is disabilty status rather than disabling condition.

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Disability	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	50	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,340	100%
  No	3,055	92%	167,045	92%
  Yes	130	4%	9,760	5%
  Prefer not to say	130	4%	5,535	3%
  	3,315	100%	182,340	100%

  

• Ethnicity

  Question asked:
  "Which of the following best describes your ethnic origin? Ethnicity is defined as including colour, ethnic or national origin, or nationality. Please choose whichever answer best reflects how you think of yourself."
  
  Portal category options:
  - White
  - Asian or Asian British
  - Black, African, Caribbean or Black British
  - Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
  - Other ethnic group
  - Prefer not to say
  
  Note:
  The categories presented here are the high level categories collected by HCPC. Respondents are also asked for a lower level category (18 options) based on their high level response. 

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Ethnicity	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	35	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,360	100%
  White	2,055	62%	138,645	76%
  Asian	860	26%	21,015	12%
  Black	75	2%	9,905	5%
  Mixed	40	1%	3,955	2%
  Other	45	1%	2,650	1%
  Prefer not to say	240	7%	6,190	3%
  	3,315	100%	182,360	100%

  

• Gender reassignment

  Question asked:
  "Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal:
  Your gender identity may be the same as your assigned sex, but it may be different. You may identify as the opposite gender to your assigned sex, you may identify with neither, or with a self-described gender identity.

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Gender Reassignment	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	5	0%	255	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,135	100%
  Yes	3,170	96%	177,005	97%
  No	5	0%	415	0%
  Prefer to self-describe	5	0%	180	0%
  Prefer not to say	135	4%	4,535	2%
  	3,315	100%	182,135	100%

  

• Marriage and civil partnership

  Question asked:
  "What is your legal marital or registered civil partnership status?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - Married
  - Never married and never registered in a civil partnership
  - Divorced
  - In a registered civil partnership
  - Separated but still legally married
  - Widowed
  - Formerly in a civil partnership which is now legally dissolved
  - Separated but still legally in civil partnership
  - Surviving partner from a registered civil partnership
  - Prefer not to say

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Marriage and Civil Partnership	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	55	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,335	100%
  Married (M)	1,605	48%	88,910	49%
  Never married or CP	1,065	32%	64,935	36%
  Separated & div. (M)	195	6%	9,705	5%
  In Civil Partnership (CP)	25	1%	1,800	1%
  Separated, not div. (M)	40	1%	2,080	1%
  Widowed (M)	15	0%	1,210	1%
  Separated & dis. (CP)	0	0%	110	0%
  Separated not dis. (CP)	0	0%	55	0%
  Widowed (CP)	0	0%	20	0%
  Prefer not to say	370	11%	13,510	7%
  	3,315	100%	182,335	100%

  

• Pregnancy and maternity

  Question asked:
  "Do you consider your self to fall under the protected characteristic of 'pregnacy & maternity', as per the Equality Act 2010? 'Pregnancy' refers to the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby, and 'maternity' refers to the period of 26 weeks after birth. The Equality Act 2010 protections also cover a someone who has had a miscarriage."

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Pregnancy and Maternity	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	150	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,245	100%
  No	2,870	86%	162,910	89%
  Yes	155	5%	9,295	5%
  Prefer not to say	290	9%	10,040	6%
  	3,315	100%	182,245	100%

  

• Religion or belief

  Question asked:
  "What is your religion or strongly held belief, if any?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - No religion or strongly held belief
  - Christian (Including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations.)
  - Muslim
  - Hindu
  - Spiritual
  - Buddhist
  - Any other religion or belief
  - Jewish
  - Sikh
  - Prefer not to say

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Religion or Belief	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	50	0%
  Recorded	3,325	100%	182,335	100%
  No religion	1,175	35%	73,815	40%
  Christian	980	30%	72,625	40%
  Muslim	475	14%	7,710	4%
  Hindu	190	6%	5,335	3%
  Spiritual	50	2%	4,020	2%
  Buddhist	10	0%	1,430	1%
  Other	20	1%	1,870	1%
  Jewish	15	0%	1,225	1%
  Sikh	55	2%	885	0%
  Prefer not to say	355	11%	13,420	7%
  	3,325	100%	182,335	100%

  

• Sex

  Question asked:
  "What is your Sex?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal: 
  This is the sex you were assigned at birth and we asked you to provide this information when you registered with the HCPC. For births registered in the UK, this will either be male or female. However, some other countries may include 'intersex' as an option. We also ask if your gender identity is different from the sex you were assigned at birth. Your gender identity may be the same as your assigned sex, but it may be different. You may identify as the opposite gender to your assigned sex, you may identify with neither, or with a self-described gender identity.

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Sex	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	150	0%
  Recorded	3,930	100%	320,455	100%
  Female	2,170	55%	232,105	72%
  Male	1,625	41%	84,010	26%
  Intersex	0	0%	25	0%
  Prefer not to say	135	3%	4,315	1%
  	3,930	100%	320,455	100%

  

• Sexual orientation

  Question asked:
  "Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - Heterosexual/straight
  - Bisexual
  - Gay woman/lesbian
  - Gay man
  - Pansexual
  - Queer
  - Asexual
  - Prefer to self-describe
  - Prefer not to say

  	Hearing Aid Dispensers		All professions
  Sexual Orientation	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	60	0%
  Recorded	3,315	100%	182,330	100%
  Heterosexual	2,905	88%	159,645	88%
  Bisexual	35	1%	3,585	2%
  Lesbian	15	0%	2,560	1%
  Gay man	40	1%	2,390	1%
  Pansexual	10	0%	640	0%
  Queer	5	0%	510	0%
  Asexual	0	0%	205	0%
  Prefer to self-describe	0	0%	195	0%
  Prefer not to say	305	9%	12,600	7%
  	3,315	100%	182,330	100%