Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss is not that severe at the moment and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $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 details.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will eventually effect your performance at work. You could lose out on future projects because you didn’t follow instructions on previous work, or your relationship with co-workers may have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. You could end up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially isolated at work. These “small” things compound over time and affect your ability to attain your full earning potential. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to a study carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also indicates that people with untreated hearing loss have a higher danger of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not seeking treatment, consequently, could cost you a lot of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Untreated hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to fall. One study revealed that even those with mild neglected hearing loss raise their chance of falling by 300 percent. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers speculated that there might be a link between the amount of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that people with more profound impairment simply became more caught up in compensating for the loss than focusing on specific physical hazards. 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. You could be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have untreated hearing loss. If you miss information from your doctor, you may end up having worse consequences in health matters, thus leading to more bills and more problems. All of these incidents add up to a huge financial gap. Several studies have connected untreated hearing loss to considerably higher medical costs over time. In one study, it was revealed that these people will have a 40% increased risk of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. The University of South Carolina released a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare costs for individuals with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that people with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing exam if you want to protect yourself financially and physically. You might need hearing aids depending on the test results. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. 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 wonderful technology.
References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time