Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Are you feeling that right now you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to justify buying one?
Even if you believe you’re doing just fine at the moment, your hearing loss might get a lot worse – and if it does, it could potentially cost you more than $30,000 per year. Not having a portion of your hearing means you could miss significant work or medical details and opportunities, and you may end up injuring yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will eventually effect your performance at work. You could lose out on future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on previous work, or your relationship with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. If you become socially isolated at work, you could end up overlooked by people at every level of the company. These “small” things compound 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 people with neglected hearing loss according to a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with untreated hearing loss, according to another study. A neglected profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, might cost you a lot of money as the years go on.
Added medical bills due to falls
Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. The chance of falling increases by 300% for people with even minor untreated hearing loss as detailed by one study. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers speculated that there could be a link between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that individuals who have greater impairment just became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical hazards. And of course, those falls lead to more medical expenses, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Worse health consequences
But that’s not all. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss details and that can produce increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a major financial gap. Several studies have linked neglected hearing loss to substantially higher medical expenses 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 end up in 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 period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicated that people with neglected moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably 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 need to invest in hearing aids. 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. Take advantage of the available technology to make your life better in all respects.
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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