Have you avoided the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally get 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?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you as much as $30,000 per year, even if you think that it’s fine for now. Going without a portion of your hearing means you might miss significant work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. You could lose out on future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on past work, or your interaction with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. You could end up going unnoticed by people at all levels if you become socially secluded at work. These “small” things add up over time and affect your ability to reach your full earning potential. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute revealed that people with neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their hearing loss.
Research also suggests that individuals with untreated hearing loss have a higher chance of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, consequently, might cost you a lot of money as the years go on.
Additional medical bills from falls
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. The danger of falling is raised by 300% for people who have even minor untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers speculated that there could be a link between the level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which controls balance, or that individuals who have more profound impairment just became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to specific physical dangers. And when you fall it often results in an expensive trip to the doctor.
Worse health outcomes
But there’s more to it than only that. If you are unable to hear well, you could miss instructions from your doctor. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can lead to increased health costs. A huge financial gap will be the consequence. Multiple studies have connected neglected hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was revealed that these people will have a 40% increased chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. The University of South Carolina released a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University indicated that individuals with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a considerably higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing exam if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. 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 today are state-of-the-art, really comfortable to use, 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
