Have you avoided the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss is not that bad right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine for now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work information.
Unemployment and lost opportunities
If you do not hear everything you need to, it will ultimately effect your work performance. Your inability to hear coworkers may be causing a breakdown in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. You could wind up going unnoticed by people at every level if you become socially isolated at work. You might not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these “small” things add up over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people 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 an increased danger of being unemployed. People who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, could cost you lot’s of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical bills
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study found that even people with mild neglected hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300 percent. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers think there may be a connection between the level of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be plausible that someone with neglected hearing loss simply gets lost in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And obviously, those falls lead to more medical bills, and thus more money out of your pocket.
Worse health outcomes
But there’s more to it than just that. If you can’t hear well, you could miss instructions from your physician. If you miss information from your doctor, you could wind up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus leading to more costs and more issues. A huge financial gap will be the consequence. Numerous studies have connected neglected hearing loss to substantially higher medical expenses over time. One study said 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 published a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for people with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to severe neglected hearing loss can lead to a significantly higher danger of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing tested. You might need hearing aids depending on the results of that test. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. Contemporary hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this fantastic 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