Have you avoided the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss isn’t that bad right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing continues to worsen, 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 could miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up injuring yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you failed to follow instructions on past projects. You could end up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially isolated at work. You may not be able to reach your full earning potential as these little things multiply over time. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute found that people with untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their hearing loss.
Research also indicates that people with neglected hearing loss have a higher chance of being unemployed. A neglected severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater chance of being unemployed. So, as time passes, letting your hearing loss go unattended could wind up costing you lot’s of money.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
You’ll have a higher likelihood of having a fall if you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial setback. One study revealed that even people with slight neglected hearing loss raise their chance of falling by 300%. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers speculated that there might be a connection between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that individuals who have greater impairment simply became more caught up in compensating for the loss than focusing on particular physical hazards. And when you have a fall it frequently results in an expensive trip to the doctor.
Worse health outcomes
But that isn’t it. You may be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it involves your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss information and that can result in increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a significant financial gap. Over time, substantially higher medical costs will result from neglected hearing loss according to numerous studies. 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. More recent research from the University of South Carolina revealed that neglected hearing loss resulted in a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month time period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably higher risk of death.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to get your hearing examined. You might need hearing aids depending on the results of that test. If you do, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Make your total 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
