Have you avoided the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss isn’t that bad at the moment and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $30,000 per year, even if you assume that it’s fine right now. Going without part of your hearing means you could miss significant work or medical details and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Unemployment and lost opportunities
If you do not hear everything you need to, it will eventually impact your work performance. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could lose opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. If you become socially secluded at work, you may be overlooked by people at all levels of the company. You may not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these little things multiply over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also suggests that people with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss could end up costing you lot’s of money.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Neglected hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The risk of falling increases by 300% for people who have even mild neglected hearing loss as detailed by one study. And, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers conjectured that there might be a connection between the level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which controls balance, or that people with more profound impairment just became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical dangers. And of course, those falls result in more medical expenses, and thus more money out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But there’s more to it than only that. You could be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it involves your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a huge financial gap. Over time, considerably higher medical expenses will result from neglected hearing loss according to numerous studies. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% increased chance of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. More recent research from the University of South Carolina revealed that neglected hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.
Moderate to severe untreated hearing loss can lead to a significantly increased risk of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing evaluated. Depending on the test results, you may need to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be fairly surprised. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. 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
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/july-hearing-loss-and-falls