Have you resisted the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you feeling that right now you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to justify getting one?
Even if you think you’re doing ok right now, your hearing loss might get a lot worse – and if it does, it might potentially cost you upwards of $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 injuring yourself physically, too.
Unemployment and missed opportunities
If you don’t hear everything you need to, it will ultimately impact your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers may be causing a deterioration in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. If you become socially secluded at work, you could end up overlooked by people at every level of the company. These “small” things add up over time and affect your ability to attain your full earning potential. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute revealed that individuals who have untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their loss of hearing.
Research also suggests that individuals with neglected hearing loss have a higher risk of being unemployed. An untreated severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher chance of being unemployed. Not seeking treatment, therefore, could cost you lot’s of money as the years go on.
Additional medical bills due to falls
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study revealed that even those with slight neglected hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300 percent. And, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers think there might be a connection between the level of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be plausible that someone with neglected hearing loss simply gets lost in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And of course, those falls result in more medical expenses, and thus 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 doctor. When it involves your health, you could have negative results if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. A major financial gap will be the result. Several studies have linked untreated hearing loss to significantly higher medical expenses over time. One study said 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. The University of South Carolina published a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for individuals with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to severe neglected hearing loss can result in a significantly increased danger of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So it’s time for a hearing assessment if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. Depending on the test results, you may have to invest in hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be fairly surprised. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all aspects.
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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