Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Do you think that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to warrant getting one?
Even if you think you’re doing just fine right now, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if it does, it might potentially cost you more than $30,000 a 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
Your job performance will be impacted if you aren’t hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. You could wind up going unnoticed by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. These ”little” things compound over time and affect your ability to reach your full earning potential. People who treat 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 suggests that individuals with neglected hearing loss have a higher chance of being unemployed. People who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, could cost you a lot of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
You’ll have a higher chance of falling if you have neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. The danger of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even slight neglected hearing loss as reported by one study. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers speculated that there could be a connection between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that people who have greater impairment simply became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than focusing on particular physical hazards. And when you fall it often results in a costly trip to the doctor.
Worse health outcomes
But there’s more to it than only that. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss instructions from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you may end up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus leading to more costs and more issues. All of these occurrences add up to a huge financial gap. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. One study noted the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these individuals 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 untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with neglected moderate to profound hearing loss had a considerably higher risk of death.
So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to get your hearing evaluated. You may need hearing aids depending on the results of that test. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. Make your total life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
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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