Have your friends, family, and co-workers been requesting that you invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you feeling like 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 as much as $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Going without part of your hearing means you might miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Unemployment and lost opportunities
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will eventually effect your work performance. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you failed to follow instructions on previous projects. If you become socially secluded at work, you may be less noticed by people at every level of the company. You might not be able to reach your full earning potential as these “small” things add up over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for people with neglected hearing loss, according to other research. An untreated profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher risk of being unemployed. Not seeking treatment, therefore, might cost you a lot of money as the years go on.
Falls will cost you even more in medical bills
Neglected hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The risk of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even minor neglected hearing loss as detailed by one study. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers conjectured that there could be a connection between the amount of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which controls balance, or that people who have greater impairment just became more caught up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to specific physical hazards. And of course, those falls result in more medical bills, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Worse health consequences
But there’s more to it than only that. If you are unable to hear well, you could miss instructions from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you might end up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus resulting in more costs and more issues. A major financial gap will be the result. Numerous studies have connected untreated 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 people were 40% more likely to go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina released a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare costs for individuals with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University indicated that individuals with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably higher chance of death.
So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to get your hearing assessed. You might need hearing aids depending on the test results. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all aspects.
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.html