Have your friends, family, and co-workers been asking you to get hearing aids but you’ve been stubbornly avoiding it? Are you feeling like your hearing loss isn’t that severe at the moment and getting a hearing aid isn’t worth it?

Even if you feel like you’re doing ok at the moment, your hearing loss might catch up with you – and if it does, it might potentially cost you more than $30,000 a year. Not only could you end up hurting yourself by dismissing 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 do not hear everything you need to, it will ultimately impact your performance at work. You could lose out on future projects because you couldn’t follow instructions on past work, or your interaction with co-workers may have deteriorated due to your being unable to hear them. If you become socially secluded at work, you could end up overlooked by people at every level of the company. These “small” things add up over time and affect your ability to attain your highest earning potential. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute found that people who have neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than those who treated their loss of hearing.

Unemployment rates are also higher 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. Not seeking treatment, consequently, might cost you lot’s of money as the years go on.

Falls will cost you even more in medical expenses

You’ll have a higher likelihood of having a fall if you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss which can deal you another financial blow. The danger of falling is raised by 300% for individuals who have even minor 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 connection between the level of hearing loss and effects on the vestibular system, which handles balance, or that individuals who have greater impairment simply became more caught up in compensating for the loss than paying attention to specific physical hazards. And when you fall it often results in a costly trip to the doctor.

Increased general health problems

But that isn’t it. If you are unable to hear well, you might miss information from your physician. When it comes to your health, you could have worse outcomes if you miss information and that can result in increased health costs. All of these incidents add up to a major financial gap. Several studies have connected untreated hearing loss to significantly increased medical costs over time. In one study, it was reported that these individuals will have a 40% higher chance of trips to the emergency room and over a ten year period, will shell out over $20,000. More recent research from the University of South Carolina revealed that untreated hearing loss led to a 33% increase in healthcare costs over an 18 month period.

Moderate to profound untreated hearing loss can lead to a significantly increased risk of death according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University.

So it’s time for a hearing exam if you want to protect yourself physically and financially. You might need hearing aids depending on the results of that test. You will probably get a pleasant surprise if you do. Hearing aids these days are state-of-the-art, very comfortable to use, and sound clear. 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