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 losing enough to warrant getting one?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you up to $30,000 per year, even if you assume that it’s fine for now. Not having a portion of your hearing means you could miss important work or medical details and opportunities, and you could end up injuring yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
If you do not hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately effect your performance at work. You could lose out on future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past work, or your relationship with co-workers may have deteriorated because you couldn’t hear them. If you become socially isolated at work, you may be overlooked by people at all levels of the company. These ”little” things add up 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 people with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with neglected hearing loss, according to another study. A neglected profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss could wind up costing you lot’s of money.
Additional medical bills from falls
You’ll have a higher chance of having a fall if you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. One study discovered that even individuals with slight untreated hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300 percent. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there might be a link between the degree of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be plausible that someone with untreated hearing loss simply gets lost in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And of course, those falls result in more medical bills, and thus more money out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But there’s more to it than only that. You could be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it comes to your health, you could have negative outcomes if you miss details and that can result in increased health costs. A huge financial gap will be the consequence. Numerous studies have connected untreated hearing loss to considerably increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was revealed that these individuals will have a 40% higher chance of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out more than $20,000. More recent research from the University of South Carolina revealed that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to severe untreated hearing loss can result in a substantially increased danger of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing examined. You may need hearing aids depending on the test results. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids these days are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all aspects.
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