Have you avoided the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss isn’t that bad at the moment and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
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 neglecting your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work information.
Unemployment and missed opportunities
If you do not hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately effect your performance at work. You could lose out on future projects because you didn’t follow instructions on past work, or your relationship with co-workers may have deteriorated because you couldn’t hear them. If you become socially isolated at work, you may be overlooked by people at every level of the company. These “small” things add up over time and impact your ability to reach your highest earning potential. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to a study carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.
Research also indicates that individuals with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of being unemployed. Individuals who don’t treat their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as the years pass, neglected hearing loss may wind up costing you lot’s of money.
Extra medical bills from falls
You’ll have a higher likelihood of having a fall if you’re dealing with untreated hearing loss which can deal you another financial setback. The risk of falling increases by 300% for people with even mild neglected hearing loss as reported by one study. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers speculated that there could be a link between the amount of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that individuals with greater impairment just became more caught up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical hazards. And obviously, those falls lead to more medical bills, and thus more cash out of your pocket.
Worse health consequences
But that isn’t it. If you can’t hear well, you might miss instructions from your physician. When it involves your health, you could have worse results if you miss information and that can result in increased health costs. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Numerous studies have linked neglected hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% increased risk of visits to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will shell out over $20,000. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina suggested that untreated hearing loss resulted in a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month period.
Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicated that people with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a significantly higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing assessment if you want to protect yourself financially and physically. Depending on the test results, you might have to invest in hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids today are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to wear, and sound clear. Make your total life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
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