Have your friends, family, 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 is not that severe right now and purchasing a hearing aid isn’t worth it?

If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $30,000 per year, even if you think that it’s fine right now. Going without a portion of your hearing means you could miss important work or medical information and opportunities, and you may end up injuring yourself physically, too.

Lost opportunities and unemployment

If you do not hear everything you’re supposed to, it will eventually effect your performance at work. Your inability to hear coworkers could cause a deterioration in relationships and you could lose opportunities for future projects because you failed to 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. These ”little” things add up over time and impact your ability to attain your full earning potential. People who are treating their hearing loss earn, on average, $20,000 more than people with neglected hearing loss according to research carried out by the Better Hearing Institute.

Unemployment rates are also higher for people with neglected hearing loss, according to another study. People who don’t address their hearing loss will be 15% more likely to be unemployed. Not getting treatment, consequently, could cost you a lot of money as the years go on.

Falls will cost you even more in medical bills

Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to have a fall. The chance of falling increases by 300% for people who have even slight untreated hearing loss as reported by one study. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every added 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers conjectured that there might be a link between the amount of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that people who have greater impairment just became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical dangers. And when you fall it frequently leads to an expensive trip to the doctor.

Increased general health problems

But that isn’t it. If you are unable to hear well, you could miss instructions from your physician. If you miss information from your doctor, you might wind up having worse outcomes in health matters, thus resulting in more bills and more problems. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Over time, considerably 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. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina revealed that neglected hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses 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 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. 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
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/july-hearing-loss-and-falls