Have your friends, family, and co-workers been asking you to get hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly resisting? Are you feeling like your hearing loss isn’t that severe right now and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you as much as $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Going without a portion of your hearing means you could miss significant work or medical information and opportunities, and you could end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Unemployment and lost opportunities
Your work performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t follow instructions on past work, or your interaction with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. If you become socially isolated at work, you may be overlooked by people at all levels of the company. You might not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these “small” things multiply over time. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also higher for individuals with untreated hearing loss, according to other research. People who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss 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 fall. One study discovered that even those with slight untreated hearing loss raise their danger of falling by 300%. And, for every 10 dB increase in hearing loss, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system manages balance and researchers think there might be a link between the amount of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be possible that someone with neglected hearing loss simply gets disoriented in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And when you have a fall it frequently results in a costly trip to the doctor.
Increased general health issues
But there’s more to it than only that. You might be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse consequences in health matters, thus resulting in more bills and more problems. A major financial gap will be the result. Numerous studies have connected neglected hearing loss to considerably increased medical costs over time. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% higher risk of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out more than $20,000. More recent research from the University of South Carolina indicated that neglected hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicated that individuals with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher risk 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 results of that test, you might need to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids nowadays are state-of-the-art, really comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all respects.
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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