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 missing enough to justify purchasing one?
Even if you feel like you’re doing ok right now, your hearing loss could get a lot worse – and if that happens, it could potentially cost you more than $30,000 a year. Not having part of your hearing means you may miss important work or medical details and opportunities, and you may end up injuring yourself physically, too.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be effected if you aren’t hearing everything you need to. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for future projects because you failed to follow instructions on past projects. You could end up going unnoticed by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. These “small” things compound over time and impact your ability to attain 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 a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also indicates that individuals with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of being unemployed. A neglected profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. So, as the years pass, neglected hearing loss may 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 have a fall. One study revealed that even individuals with mild neglected hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300%. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing loss, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers conjectured that there might be a connection between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that individuals who have more profound impairment simply became more caught up in compensating for the loss than focusing on particular physical hazards. And of course, those falls result in more medical bills, and thus more money out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But that’s not all. You may be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have untreated hearing loss. When it involves your health, you could have worse results if you miss details and that can result in increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a huge financial gap. Over time, significantly increased medical costs will result from neglected hearing loss according to several studies. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% higher chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will shell out over $20,000. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina suggested that neglected hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that people with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a substantially higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing assessment if you want to protect yourself financially and physically. Depending on the test results, you might have to invest in hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely 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