Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you feeling that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to warrant buying one?
Even if you think you’re doing ok at the moment, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if it does, it could possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 per year. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work details.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be effected if you aren’t hearing everything you need to. You could lose out on future projects because you didn’t follow instructions on past work, or your relationship with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. You could wind up being overlooked by people at all levels if you become socially isolated at work. These ”little” things add up over time and impact your ability to reach your highest earning potential. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also suggests that people with neglected hearing loss have an increased chance of being unemployed. An untreated severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher risk of being unemployed. So, as time passes, letting your hearing loss go unattended could wind up costing you lot’s of money.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. One study revealed that even people with slight neglected hearing loss increase their risk of falling by 300 percent. In addition, 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 may be a connection between the level of hearing loss and how it affects that system. Or, it might also be plausible that somebody with neglected hearing loss just gets disoriented in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And obviously, those falls lead to more medical expenses, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But that’s not all. If you can’t hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have worse results if you miss details and that can produce increased health costs. A major financial gap will be the result. Multiple studies have connected neglected hearing loss to significantly increased medical costs over time. One study noted the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these people were 40% more likely to go to the emergency room. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina suggested that untreated hearing loss resulted in a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing assessed. Depending on the test results, you may need to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Contemporary hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. 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