Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Do you think that right now you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to justify getting one?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you as much as $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 important work or medical details and opportunities, and you could end up hurting yourself physically, as well.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will eventually effect your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers may be causing 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 all levels if you become socially secluded at work. These “small” things add up over time and impact your ability to reach your highest earning potential. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss as reported by research done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with untreated hearing loss, according to other research. An untreated profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater chance of being unemployed. Not seeking treatment, consequently, could cost you lot’s of money as the years go on.
Extra medical bills from falls
You’ll have a higher likelihood of falling if you have untreated hearing loss which can deal you another financial setback. One study revealed that even individuals with slight untreated hearing loss raise their danger of falling by 300 percent. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there might be a link between the level of hearing loss and how it affects that system. Or, it may also be plausible that somebody with untreated hearing loss simply gets disoriented in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And when you 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 information from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse consequences in health matters, thus leading to more costs and more problems. All of these occurrences add up to a significant financial gap. Over time, considerably 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 go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina published a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for people with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to profound untreated hearing loss can result in a significantly higher risk of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.
So it’s time for a hearing examination if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. You may need hearing aids depending on the results of that test. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids these days are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to use, and sound clear. Take advantage of the available technology to make your life better 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.html
