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 right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
Even if you think you’re doing ok right now, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if it does, it could potentially cost you more than $30,000 a year. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by neglecting your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by not hearing important medical or work details.
Unemployment and missed opportunities
Your work performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you failed to follow instructions on past projects. If you become socially secluded at work, you could end up less noticed by people at every level of the company. You might not be able to reach your max earning potential as these “small” things add up over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also suggests that people with neglected hearing loss have an increased chance of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not seeking treatment, consequently, might cost you a lot of money as the years go on.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. One study revealed that even individuals with slight untreated hearing loss raise their danger of falling by 300%. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers conjectured that there could be a link 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 focusing on particular physical hazards. And when you have a fall it often results in an expensive trip to the doctor.
Increased general health problems
But there’s more to it than just that. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss details and that can produce increased health costs. All of these incidents add up to a significant financial gap. Over time, considerably higher medical expenses will result from neglected hearing loss according to several 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. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina suggested that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with neglected 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 physically and financially. You may need hearing aids depending on the test results. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids nowadays are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Make your total 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
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/july-hearing-loss-and-falls