Have you avoided the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you thinking that your hearing loss is not that bad at the moment and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you up to $30,000 per year, even if you assume that it’s fine right now. Not having a portion of your hearing means you could miss significant work or medical details and opportunities, and you could end up injuring yourself physically, as well.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
If you can’t hear everything you need to, it will eventually 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 future projects because you failed to follow instructions on previous projects. If you become socially isolated at work, you may be less noticed by people at all levels of the company. These ”little” things add up over time and affect your ability to attain your highest earning potential. A study by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that people with neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who dealt with their hearing loss.
Research also suggests that people with untreated hearing loss have an increased risk of being unemployed. People who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not seeking treatment, therefore, could cost you a lot of money as the years go on.
Added medical bills due to falls
Untreated hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The chance of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even minor untreated 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 speculated that there might be a link between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that people with more profound impairment just became more caught up in compensating for the loss than focusing on particular physical hazards. And obviously, those falls lead to more medical bills, and consequently more cash out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But that isn’t it. You could be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it involves your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a significant financial gap. Over time, substantially higher medical costs will result from untreated hearing loss according to numerous studies. One study noted 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 expenses for individuals with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University indicated that people with untreated moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably higher risk 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 need to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
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References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time