Have you resisted the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Do you think that right now you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not missing enough to warrant getting one?
If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you up to $30,000 per year, even if you assume that it’s fine for now. Not having a portion of your hearing means you could miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, too.
Lost opportunities and unemployment
Your job performance will be effected if you aren’t hearing everything you should. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on past work, or your interaction with co-workers could have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. If you become socially secluded at work, you may be overlooked by people at every level of the company. These “small” things compound over time and affect your ability to attain your full earning potential. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute found that people who have untreated hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than those who treated their hearing loss.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with neglected hearing loss, according to another study. An untreated profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher risk of being unemployed. So, as the years pass, neglected hearing loss could end up costing you lot’s of money.
Additional medical bills due to falls
Untreated hearing loss can deal another financial blow by actually making you more likely to have a fall. One study revealed that even those with slight neglected hearing loss increase their chance of falling by 300%. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing loss, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there might be a connection between the degree of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it might also be plausible that someone with neglected hearing loss just gets lost in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And obviously, those falls result in more medical bills, and consequently more money out of your pocket.
Worse health outcomes
But that isn’t it. You might be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can result in increased health costs. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Multiple studies have connected neglected hearing loss to considerably increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was reported that these individuals will have a 40% higher chance of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will pay out over $20,000. More recent research 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 result in a significantly increased risk of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So it’s time for a hearing test if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. You may need hearing aids depending on the test results. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. 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