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

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 losing enough to justify purchasing one?

If your hearing keeps getting worse, it could cost you as much as $30,000 each year, even if you think that it’s fine for 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.

Lost opportunities and unemployment

If you can’t hear everything you’re supposed to, it will ultimately impact your work performance. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t hear instructions on previous work, or your interaction with co-workers may have deteriorated because you couldn’t hear them. 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 able to reach your full earning potential as these little things add up over time. A study by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that people who have neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their loss of hearing.

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

Falls will cost you even more in medical bills

Neglected hearing loss can cause another financial hit by actually making you more likely to fall. One study discovered that even individuals with slight neglected hearing loss increase their danger of falling by 300%. also, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The researchers conjectured that there could be a link between the degree of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which deals with balance, or that individuals with more profound impairment simply became more wrapped up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to particular physical hazards. And when you have a fall it often results in a costly trip to the doctor.

Increased general health issues

But that’s not all. You might be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can produce increased health costs. All of these occurrences add up to a significant financial gap. Over time, substantially increased medical expenses will result from neglected hearing loss according to numerous studies. One study noted 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. A more recent study from the University of South Carolina indicated that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare expenses over an 18 month period.

Another study from Johns Hopkins University indicated that individuals with untreated moderate to severe hearing loss had a substantially higher chance of death.

So, if you want to protect yourself both financially and physically, it’s time to have your hearing examined. 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 incredibly clear and comfortable. Make your overall life better by taking advantage of this amazing technology.

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

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.