Have your family, friends, and co-workers been requesting that you invest in hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you thinking that your hearing loss isn’t that severe right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?

If your hearing continues to worsen, it could cost you up to $30,000 per year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by dismissing your hearing loss, you could also cost yourself income and lost opportunities by not hearing important medical or work details.

Missed opportunities and unemployment

Your work performance will be impacted if you aren’t hearing everything you need to. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a breakdown in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past projects. You could end up being overlooked by people at all levels if you become socially isolated at work. You may not be able to reach your max earning potential as these little things multiply over time. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than individuals with neglected hearing loss according to a study done by the Better Hearing Institute.

Research also indicates that individuals with neglected hearing loss have an increased chance of being unemployed. An untreated severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent higher risk of being unemployed. Not seeking treatment, consequently, could cost you a lot of money as time goes by.

Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses

Untreated hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The danger of falling increases by 300% for people who have even slight untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers conjectured that there could be a link between the amount of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that individuals with greater impairment just became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than focusing on particular physical dangers. And obviously, those falls result in more medical expenses, and consequently more money out of your pocket.

Increased general health issues

But that’s not all. If you can’t hear well, you could miss information from your physician. If you miss information from your doctor, you may end up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus leading to more bills and more problems. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Over time, significantly higher medical costs will result from neglected hearing loss according to numerous studies. In one study, it was revealed that these people will have a 40% higher chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will shell out more than $20,000. The University of South Carolina released a study that indicated a 33% increase in healthcare costs for people with neglected hearing loss over an 18 month period.

Moderate to profound neglected hearing loss can result in a significantly increased danger of death according to a study circulated by Johns Hopkins University.

So, if you want to protect yourself both financially and physically, it’s time to get your hearing assessed. Depending on the results of that test, you might have to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Contemporary hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Take advantage of the available technology to improve your life 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
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/july-hearing-loss-and-falls