Have you resisted the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you thinking that your hearing loss isn’t that bad at the moment and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
Even if you feel like you’re doing ok at the moment, your hearing loss might get a lot worse – and if it does, it might possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 per year. Not only could you end up injuring yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by not hearing important medical or work details.
Unemployment and missed opportunities
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately impact your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers may be causing a breakdown in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you failed to follow instructions on previous projects. You could end up going unnoticed by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. You may not be able to reach your full earning potential as these little things add up over time. A study by the Better Hearing Institute found that people who have untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who dealt with their hearing loss.
Research also suggests that individuals with neglected hearing loss have an increased chance of being unemployed. A neglected severe 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.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. The chance of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even slight untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there may be a link between the degree of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be plausible that somebody with untreated hearing loss just gets lost in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And when you have a fall it frequently results in a costly trip to the doctor.
Increased general health issues
But there’s more to it than only that. You could be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have untreated hearing loss. When it comes to your health, you could have negative results if you miss details and that can produce increased health costs. A major financial gap will be the consequence. Numerous studies have connected untreated hearing loss to significantly higher medical expenses over time. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% increased chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out more than $20,000. The University of South Carolina released a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare costs for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.
Moderate to severe untreated hearing loss can result in a substantially higher risk of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.
So it’s time for a hearing examination if you want to protect yourself financially and physically. Depending on the test results, you might have to invest in hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised. Contemporary hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this fantastic technology.
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References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time