Have you avoided the calls from family, friends, and co-workers to finally get a hearing aid? Do you think that right now 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 right now. Not only could you end up injuring 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’re supposed to, it will ultimately effect your performance at work. You could get passed up for future projects because you didn’t follow instructions on previous work, or your relationship with co-workers could have deteriorated because you couldn’t hear them. You could end up going unnoticed by people at all levels if you become socially isolated at work. These “small” things compound over time and impact your ability to attain your full earning potential. Research conducted by the Better Hearing Institute revealed that individuals who have neglected hearing loss earned, on average, $20,000 less a year than people who treated their loss of hearing.

Unemployment rates are also increased for people with untreated hearing loss, according to other research. A neglected severe hearing loss translates into a 15 percent greater risk of being unemployed. Not getting treatment, consequently, might cost you a lot of money as time goes by.

Additional medical bills from falls

You’ll have a higher likelihood of falling if you have untreated hearing loss which can deal you another financial setback. The chance of falling is raised by 300% for people with even minor neglected hearing loss as detailed by one study. In addition, there is a 1.4-fold increase in falls for every additional 10 dB of hearing loss. The vestibular system handles balance and researchers believe there may be a link between the level of hearing loss and how it impacts that system. Or, it may also be possible that somebody with neglected hearing loss simply gets disoriented in their environment because they are overcompensating with their other senses. And when you fall it frequently leads to a costly trip to the doctor.

Increased general health issues

But that’s not all. You may be missing some of the guidance from your doctor if you have neglected hearing loss. If you miss information from your doctor, you may wind up having worse consequences in health matters, thus resulting in more bills and more issues. A major financial gap will be the consequence. Over time, substantially higher medical costs will result from untreated hearing loss according to several studies. In one study, it was reported that these people will have a 40% increased 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 expenses for people with untreated hearing loss over an 18 month period.

Another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University suggested that individuals with untreated moderate to severe hearing loss had a considerably higher chance of death.

So, if you’re interested in protecting yourself both financially and physically, it’s time to get your hearing examined. Depending on the results of that test, you might need to get hearing aids. You will most likely get a pleasant surprise if you do. Modern hearing aids are extremely clear and comfortable. Make your total life better by taking advantage of this fantastic technology.

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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