Have your family, friends, and co-workers been asking you to invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Do you think that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to justify buying one?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you up to $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by neglecting your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by not hearing important medical or work information.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be impacted if you aren’t hearing everything you should. You could lose out on future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on previous work, or your interaction with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. You could wind up going unnoticed by people at every level if you become socially isolated at work. You may not be able to reach your max earning potential as these “small” things multiply over time. A study by the Better Hearing Institute found that individuals with untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than those who dealt with their hearing loss.
Research also suggests that people with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of being unemployed. People who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, consequently, might cost you lot’s of money as the years go on.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
You’ll have a higher likelihood of falling if you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial setback. One study found that even people with slight neglected hearing loss raise their danger of falling by 300 percent. And, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system manages balance and researchers believe there may be a link between the degree of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be plausible that someone with untreated hearing loss just gets disoriented in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And when you have a fall it frequently leads to a costly trip to the doctor.
Increased general health problems
But that’s not all. If you can’t hear well, you might miss instructions from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus leading to more costs and more problems. A major financial gap will be the consequence. Over time, significantly higher medical costs will result from neglected hearing loss according to several studies. 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 go to the emergency room. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina suggested that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that people with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to get your hearing examined. Depending on the results of that test, you might need to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. Hearing aids these days are state-of-the-art, really comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Take advantage of the available technology to make your life better in all aspects.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
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