Have your friends, family, and co-workers been requesting that you invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you feeling that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to warrant purchasing one?
Even if you believe you’re doing ok at the moment, your hearing loss could get a lot worse – and if it does, it could potentially cost you more than $30,000 a year. Not having a portion of your hearing means you might miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you could end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be impacted if you aren’t hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could get passed over on 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. You might not be able to reach your full earning potential as these little things multiply over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also higher for individuals with neglected hearing loss, according to other research. An untreated profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater chance of being unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, could cost you a lot of money as time goes by.
Additional medical bills due to falls
You’ll have a higher likelihood of having a fall if you have untreated hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. The chance of falling is raised by 300% for individuals with even mild untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. 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 degree of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be possible that someone with neglected hearing loss simply gets disoriented in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And of course, those falls lead to more medical expenses, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Worse health outcomes
But there’s more to it than only that. You might be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. If you miss information from your doctor, you could wind up having worse consequences in health matters, thus resulting in more bills and more problems. A huge financial gap will be the result. Multiple studies have connected neglected hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% higher risk of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out more than $20,000. The University of South Carolina released a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare costs for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with untreated 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 test results, you may need to invest in hearing aids. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all respects.
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
