Have you resisted the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Do you think that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to warrant buying one?
Even if you think you’re doing ok right now, your hearing loss might get a lot worse – and if it does, it might potentially cost you more than $30,000 per year. Not having part of your hearing means you might miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you could end up injuring yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be impacted if you’re not hearing everything you should. 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. You could end up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. These ”little” things add up over time and affect your ability to reach your full earning potential. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with neglected hearing loss, according to other research. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss may end up costing you lot’s of money.
Falls will cost you even more in medical bills
Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study revealed that even people with mild neglected hearing loss raise their chance of falling by 300 percent. And, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers speculated that there could be a connection between the degree 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 dangers. And when you fall it frequently leads to an expensive trip to the doctor.
Worse health consequences
But there’s more to it than only that. If you are unable to hear well, you could miss information from your physician. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. A major financial gap will be the consequence. Several studies have connected neglected hearing loss to significantly increased medical costs over time. One study noted the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these people were 40% more likely to end up in the emergency room. The University of South Carolina released a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for people with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with untreated moderate to severe hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing test if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. Depending on the results of that test, you may have to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids today are state-of-the-art, really comfortable to use, and sound clear. 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