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 justify purchasing one?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $30,000 per year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by neglecting your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work details.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
If you do not hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately impact your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you failed to follow instructions on past projects. You could end up going unnoticed by people at all levels if you become socially isolated at work. You may not be able to reach your full earning potential as these “small” things multiply over time. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with untreated hearing loss, according to other research. An untreated profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. Not getting treatment, consequently, could cost you lot’s of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study discovered that even people with slight neglected hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300 percent. In addition, 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 caught up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical dangers. And of course, those falls lead to more medical expenses, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Increased general health problems
But there’s more to it than just that. You might be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. If you miss information from your doctor, you may end up having worse consequences in health matters, thus leading to more costs and more issues. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Multiple studies have linked neglected hearing loss to considerably higher medical expenses over time. One study said 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 costs for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to severe neglected hearing loss can result in a significantly increased risk of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing assessed. You may need hearing aids depending on the test results. If you do, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all respects.
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
