Have your friends, family, and co-workers been asking you to get hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly resisting? Do you think that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to warrant purchasing one?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you up to $30,000 each year, even if you assume that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up injuring yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work details.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
Your work performance will be effected if you’re not hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could lose opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on previous projects. You could wind up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially isolated at work. You may not be able to reach your full earning potential as these little things multiply over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for people with neglected hearing loss, according to other research. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, might cost you lot’s of money as the years go on.
Additional medical bills due to falls
You’ll have a higher chance of having a fall if you have neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. One study found that even those with mild neglected hearing loss increase their chance of falling by 300 percent. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers conjectured that there could be a connection between the level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that people who have greater impairment simply became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical hazards. And obviously, those falls result in more medical bills, and consequently more cash out of your pocket.
Increased general health issues
But that’s not all. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss information from your physician. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse consequences in health matters, thus resulting in more costs and more issues. A huge financial gap will be the result. Numerous studies have connected untreated hearing loss to significantly increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was revealed that these people will have a 40% higher risk of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina indicated that neglected hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to profound untreated hearing loss can lead to a significantly higher risk of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing checked. Depending on the test results, you may 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 wear, and sound clear. Take advantage of the available technology to make your life better in all aspects.
References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time