$20,000 - or More - a Year? Just for Wearing a Hearing Aid?

HEARING TIPS

Stack of new $100 bills

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 missing enough to warrant purchasing one?

Even if you believe you’re doing just fine right now, your hearing loss might catch up with you – and if it does, it might possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 a year. Going without a portion of your hearing means you might miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you could end up injuring yourself physically, too.

Unemployment and missed opportunities

Your work performance will be impacted if you aren’t hearing everything you should. Your inability to hear coworkers may be causing a breakdown in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. If you become socially isolated at work, you may be overlooked by people at every level of the company. These ”little” things compound over time and affect your ability to reach your full earning potential. People who treat their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss as reported by a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.

Unemployment rates are also higher for people with untreated hearing loss, according to other research. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss could wind up costing you lot’s of money.

Added medical bills due to falls

You’ll have a higher chance of falling if you have neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. One study found that even individuals with mild neglected hearing loss raise their risk of falling by 300 percent. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing impairment, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The vestibular system manages balance and researchers believe there might be a link between the amount of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be plausible that someone with untreated hearing loss just gets disoriented in their environment because they’re overcompensating with their other senses. And obviously, those falls result in more medical bills, and thus more cash out of your pocket.

Worse health outcomes

But that’s not all. If you can’t hear well, you could miss instructions from your doctor. If you miss information from your doctor, you may end up having worse consequences in health matters, thus resulting in more costs and more problems. All of these incidents add up to a huge financial gap. Several studies have linked neglected hearing loss to considerably higher medical costs 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 go to the emergency room. The University of South Carolina released a study that revealed a 33% increase in healthcare expenses for individuals with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month time period.

Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that people with neglected moderate to profound hearing loss had a significantly higher risk of death.

So, if you want to protect yourself both physically and financially, it’s time to have your hearing tested. Depending on the results of that test, you might have to invest in hearing aids. 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 make your life better in all aspects.

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References

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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