Have your family, friends, and co-workers been asking you to invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you thinking that your hearing loss isn’t that bad at the moment and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
Even if you feel like you’re doing just fine at the moment, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if that happens, it could possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 per year. Not having a portion of your hearing means you may miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, too.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately effect your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. You could wind up going unnoticed by people at all levels if you become socially secluded at work. You may not be able to reach your max earning potential as these little things add up over time. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also higher for people with neglected hearing loss, according to other research. Individuals who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, letting your hearing loss go unattended could end up costing you lot’s of money.
Added medical bills due to falls
You’ll have a higher likelihood of falling if you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. One study discovered that even those with slight untreated hearing loss raise their danger of falling by 300%. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there might be a connection between the amount of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be plausible that someone with neglected hearing loss just gets lost in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And of course, those falls result in more medical bills, and consequently more cash out of your pocket.
Worse health outcomes
But there’s more to it than only that. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss information from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus resulting in more bills and more problems. All of these occurrences add up to a huge financial gap. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to substantially higher medical costs over time. One study said the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these individuals were 40% more likely to end up in the emergency room. The University of South Carolina published 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 people with neglected moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing exam if you want to protect yourself financially and physically. Depending on the results of that test, you might need to invest in hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be fairly surprised. Hearing aids today are state-of-the-art, really comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
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