Have you resisted the calls from friends, family, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Do you think that presently you really don’t need a hearing aid or that you’re not losing enough to justify buying one?
Even if you feel like you’re doing just fine at the moment, your hearing loss could catch up with you – and if that happens, it could possibly cost you upwards of $30,000 per year. Going without part of your hearing means you might miss significant work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up hurting yourself physically, too.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
If you don’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately impact your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could get passed over on opportunities for upcoming projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. If you become socially secluded at work, you could end up less noticed by people at all levels of the company. You may not be capable of reaching your max earning potential as these “small” things add up over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to research done by the Better Hearing Institute.
Unemployment rates are also increased for individuals with untreated hearing loss, according to another study. Individuals who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. So, as time passes, neglected hearing loss could end up costing you lot’s of money.
Added medical bills from falls
Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. One study found that even individuals with slight neglected hearing loss increase their danger of falling by 300 percent. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers think there may be a link between the level of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be possible that somebody with untreated hearing loss just gets disoriented in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And when you fall it often leads to a costly trip to the doctor.
Increased general health issues
But that isn’t it. You could be missing some of the advice from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it involves your health, you could have worse results if you miss information and that can lead to increased health costs. All of these incidents add up to a significant financial gap. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to substantially increased medical expenses over time. One study noted 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. More recent research from the University of South Carolina indicated that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.
Moderate to severe untreated hearing loss can lead to a substantially increased risk of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.
So it’s time for a hearing examination if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. Depending on the test results, you may need to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll probably be fairly surprised. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Make your total life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.
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References
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time