Have you resisted the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Do you think that right now you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to justify purchasing one?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you up to $30,000 per year, even if you assume that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by not hearing important medical or work information.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your job performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on previous work, or your relationship with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. If you become socially isolated at work, you could end up less noticed by people at every level of the company. You may not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these “small” things multiply over time. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that people who have untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who dealt with their hearing loss.
Unemployment rates are also increased for people with untreated hearing loss, according to another study. People who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, letting your hearing loss go unattended may wind up costing you lot’s of money.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Neglected hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study revealed that even those with mild neglected hearing loss increase their risk of falling by 300%. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there may be a connection between the amount of hearing loss and how it affects that system. Or, it may also be plausible that somebody with neglected hearing loss just gets lost in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And when you fall it often results in a costly trip to the doctor.
Increased general health problems
But there’s more to it than just that. If you are unable to hear well, you could miss instructions from your doctor. When it involves your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss information and that can result in increased health costs. A huge financial gap will be the consequence. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to substantially higher medical expenses over time. One study noted the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these individuals were 40% more likely to go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina released a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare costs for individuals with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicated that individuals with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably higher chance of death.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to get your hearing checked. Depending on the test results, you might need to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be fairly surprised. Hearing aids today are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to use, and sound clear. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/july-hearing-loss-and-falls