Can Hearing Loss Cost More than Getting Hearing Aids
Are you putting off getting a hearing test? You’re not alone. Hearing loss is extremely common, especially among older adults, with 30 to 48 million Americans suffering a hearing loss that diminishes their quality of life significantly.
Posted by Casandra Lee in Hearing Aid Lifestyle
Are you putting off getting a hearing test? You’re not alone. Hearing loss is extremely common, especially among older adults, with 30 to 48 million Americans suffering a hearing loss that diminishes their quality of life significantly. Among adults over 60, about one in three has life-affecting hearing loss. However, only about one-third of people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. Hearing aids’ cost is one reason that people delay seeking help, but it can actually be more expensive to go without them.
That’s the conclusion drawn by researchers conducting a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Studying a group of people of similar age, employment, and health, they determined that those with hearing loss spent more on medical bills, and those with untreated hearing loss had even more medical expenses. Why would that be? It could be that people with hearing loss struggle with associated comorbidities, leading to higher medical bills. Another possibility is that people with untreated hearing loss don’t seek help because they have concerns about communicating with health care professionals. They may have trouble understanding a doctor’s instructions, and this can make medical issues worse. This can result in excess time and money spent at the doctor’s office.
The cost of hearing loss is much more than financial, though. Hearing loss can diminish the quality of a person’s life academically, medically, professionally, and socially. For example, people over 60 wait an average of five to 15 years before seeking help for their hearing loss. Delaying treatment that long makes it harder to adjust to hearing aids, and while they’re putting it off, they miss out on things that could improve their quality of life.
People with untreated hearing loss are often perceived as less intelligent or less competent than their peers. As a result, they’re often passed over for promotions at work. In their personal lives, hearing loss can interfere with their relationships. Marriages suffer, it’s hard to connect with grandkids, and people with untreated hearing loss often feel socially isolated, which can lead to anxiety and depression. Physically, untreated hearing loss can cause fatigue, stress, and headaches from trying so hard to hear. Worse, one recent study found that moderate to severe hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of death.
Fortunately, there’s a solution. Modern hearing aids are designed to deal with all different types of hearing loss, including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and more. What’s more, hearing aids are now very discreet and unobtrusive, and they require very little maintenance.
At Elite Hearing Centers of America, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality service, industry-leading products, and a no-excuses 100% satisfaction guarantee. Founded by some of the industry’s most experienced private practice owners in the United States, we offer professional, compassionate care, providing high-quality hearing aids at affordable prices. Call us at 855-432-7354 or schedule a free hearing test and comprehensive hearing evaluation today.