Have your family, friends, and co-workers been asking you to invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly resisting? Are you thinking that 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 up to $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine for now. Not having part of your hearing means you might miss significant work or medical details and opportunities, and you could end up hurting yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your job performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you need to. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on previous work, or your interaction with co-workers may have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. You could wind up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. You might not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these little things multiply over time. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that individuals with neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than those who treated their loss of hearing.
Research also suggests that people with untreated hearing loss have a higher 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 a lot of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical bills
Untreated hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to fall. The chance of falling increases by 300% for people who have even minor untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. And, 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 level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which controls balance, or that people with greater impairment just 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 a costly trip to the doctor.
Worse health outcomes
But that isn’t it. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have worse results if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a significant financial gap. Multiple studies have connected neglected hearing loss to significantly higher medical costs over time. In one study, it was revealed that these people will have a 40% higher chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. The University of South Carolina published a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for individuals with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with neglected moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher risk of death.
So it’s time for a hearing assessment if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. Depending on the test results, you might need to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. 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