Have you avoided the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally invest in a hearing aid? Are you feeling like your hearing loss is not that bad right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?
If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you as much as $30,000 per year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by neglecting your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by missing important medical or work information.
Missed opportunities and unemployment
If you can’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately effect your work performance. You could get passed up for future projects because you couldn’t hear instructions on previous work, or your interaction with co-workers may have deteriorated because you couldn’t hear them. You could wind up being overlooked by people at all levels if you become socially secluded at work. These “small” things compound over time and affect your ability to attain your full earning potential. A study by the Better Hearing Institute revealed that individuals with neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their hearing loss.
Research also suggests that people with untreated hearing loss have an increased chance of being unemployed. A neglected profound hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher risk of being unemployed. Not seeking treatment, therefore, might cost you lot’s of money as time goes by.
Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses
You’ll have a higher chance of having a fall if you have neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. One study revealed that even those with mild untreated hearing loss increase their risk of falling by 300%. Additionally, for every 10 dB increase in hearing loss, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls. The researchers conjectured that there could be a link between the level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that individuals with more profound impairment just became more caught up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical hazards. And when you have a fall it frequently results in an expensive trip to the doctor.
Worse health consequences
But there’s more to it than only that. You may be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it comes to your health, you could have negative results if you miss details and that can produce increased health costs. A huge financial gap will be the consequence. Over time, significantly increased medical costs will result from neglected hearing loss according to numerous studies. 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 people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month time period.
Another study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that people with neglected moderate to severe hearing loss had a considerably higher chance of death.
So it’s time for a hearing test if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. Depending on the test results, you might have to get hearing aids. If you do, you’ll likely be fairly surprised. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life in all aspects.
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