Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Are you feeling that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to warrant purchasing one?
Even if you feel like you’re doing ok at the moment, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if it does, it might possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 a year. 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 need to. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on previous projects. You could end up being overlooked by people at every level if you become socially secluded at work. You may not be capable of reaching your full earning potential as these “small” things multiply over time. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that individuals with neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than those who dealt with their loss of hearing.
Research also suggests that people with neglected hearing loss have an increased risk of being unemployed. A neglected severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. Not getting treatment, therefore, could cost you lot’s of money as time goes by.
Additional medical bills due to falls
Untreated hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The risk of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even slight neglected hearing loss as detailed 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 manages balance and researchers think there may be a link between the level of hearing loss and how it affects that system. Or, it might also be plausible that someone with neglected hearing loss simply gets lost in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And when you have a fall it frequently results in an expensive trip to the doctor.
Worse health outcomes
But that isn’t it. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have negative results if you miss details and that can result in increased health costs. A huge financial gap will be the result. Multiple studies have linked untreated hearing loss to significantly increased medical expenses over time. One study said the average increase was more than $20,000 over a ten year period and that these people were 40% more likely to go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina published a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare costs for individuals with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Moderate to severe neglected hearing loss can result in a substantially increased danger of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So, if you want to protect yourself both financially and physically, it’s time to get your hearing checked. Depending on the test results, you might have to invest in hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are incredibly clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all respects.
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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