Have your friends, family, and co-workers been requesting that you invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you thinking that your hearing loss isn’t that severe at the moment and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
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. Going without a portion of your hearing means you may miss important work or medical details and opportunities, and you could end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Unemployment and missed opportunities
Your job performance will be impacted if you’re not hearing everything you need to. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could lose opportunities for upcoming projects because you failed to follow instructions on previous projects. You could end up going unnoticed by people at all levels if you become socially secluded at work. These ”little” things compound over time and affect your ability to reach your full earning potential. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also suggests that individuals with untreated hearing loss have an increased risk of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not seeking treatment, therefore, might cost you lot’s of money as time goes by.
Additional medical bills from falls
Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study revealed that even those with slight untreated hearing loss raise their chance of falling by 300%. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers think there may be a connection between the amount of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be plausible that somebody with untreated hearing loss just gets disoriented in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And when you fall it frequently leads to an expensive trip to the doctor.
Increased general health problems
But that isn’t it. If you can’t hear well, you could miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. A major financial gap will be the consequence. Multiple studies have linked neglected hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. One study said the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these people were 40% more likely to go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina published a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University indicated that people with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So, if you want to protect yourself both financially and physically, it’s time to get your hearing examined. Depending on the results of that test, you may need to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to make your life better in all respects.
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
