Are hearing aids really worth the cost? People with hearing loss are regularly worried about the cost. But, although a house is a costly investment, it’s significantly better than being homeless. You have to go beyond the cost to decide the actual worth of hearing aids.
“What’s the cost of not getting hearing aids, and what would I actually get from purchasing them?” These are some Important things to ask when deciding on whether or not to invest in a expensive item. If you need hearing aids it will wind up costing you more if you don’t invest in them. These expenses should really factor into your decision as well. Ultimately hearing aids can save you money. Here’s why.
You Will Find Yourself Paying More for Choosing Cheap Hearing Aids
If you have searched the internet looking for hearing assistance devices, you understand that there are bargain, apparently more affordable devices out there. You could possibly even buy a hearing aid off of the internet priced less than a dinner.
You can expect to get what you pay for in quality when you purchase over-the-counter hearing devices. When you get these devices, you are in reality getting an amplification device much like earbuds, not an actual hearing aid. The issue with these cheap devices is that they turn the background noises up.
With cheap hearing devices you don’t get the most important features, such as customized programming. A superior hearing aid can be specifically keyed to your hearing problem which will assist in stopping it from getting worse.
There are also cheap batteries which low grade devices use for power. Having to replace dead batteries frequently will become costly. When you use the amplification device day today, you could possibly wind up replacing the battery up to a couple of times per day. Plan on carrying plenty of replacement batteries because the low-quality ones often fail at the exact moment you require them the most. Do you really save money if you have to replenish dead batteries every day?
Better technology helps the better quality hearing aids to have a life. Some even include rechargeable batteries, getting rid of the need for regular replacements.
Career Issues
Whether or not you decide to struggle with low-quality hearing aids or go without them completely, it’s a decision that will cost you at your job. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal reports that adults with hearing loss often earn less money – as much as 25 percent less, and are more likely to be unemployed.
Why is this? There are a number of reasons for this, but the dominant factor is that communicating is essential in pretty much every field. You have to hear what your employer is saying to be able to give good results. You must be able to listen to clients to assist them. When you spend the entire conversation attempting to figure out what words a person is saying, you’re probably going to miss out on the overall content. Put simply, if you can’t engage in verbal interactions, it is really difficult to succeed at work.
The effort to hear at work exacts a toll on you bodily, as well. And if you do find a way to make it through a day with sub-par hearing, the anxiousness associated with wondering if you heard everything correctly plus the energy needed to hear as much as you can will keep you exhausted and stressed out. Some impacts of stress:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
All of these have the possibility to impact your work performance and reduce your earnings as a consequence.
More Trips to the ER
There is a safety concern that comes with loss of hearing. Without proper hearing aids, it is risky for you to cross the road or operate a car. How can you stay clear of something if you can’t hear it? What about public warning systems like a twister alert or smoke detector?
For some jobs, hearing is a must have for job-site safety practices like building and construction zones or processing plants. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not just a safety hazard but also something which can restrict your career choices.
Financial protection is a factor here, also. Did the cashier tell you that you owe 35 dollars or 75? What did the salesperson say regarding the functions on the dishwasher you are looking at and do you require them? Maybe the less expensive unit would be all you would need, but it is difficult to tell if you can’t hear the salesperson describe the difference.
The Health of Your Brain
One of the most imperative issues that come with hearing loss is the increased danger of getting dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Alzheimer’s disease costs people more than 56,000 dollars a year. Dementia makes up about 11 billion dollars in Medicare costs annually.
Hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and different forms of dementia. It is estimated that someone with acute, untreated hearing loss increases their possibility of brain deterioration by five times. A moderate hearing loss comes with three times the chances of dementia, and even a slight hearing issue doubles your chances. Hearing aids bring the danger back to normal.
There is little doubt that a hearing aid is going to cost you a little more money. If you examine all the troubles that come with not having one or buying a cheaper device, it’s undoubtedly a smart financial decision. Make an appointment with a hearing specialist to learn more.
