There are numerous health issues that can arise from untreated hearing loss. These health issues, over time, add up in healthcare costs. In fact, a study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that untreated hearing loss on average leads to a 46% increase in healthcare costs. Comparing records of patients with hearing loss who got hearing aids versus those who didn’t over a 10 year period, they found those who opted not to treat their hearing loss had:
What does that mean in real money? The average person who ignored their hearing loss for 10 years overspent on healthcare by $22,000. Even ignoring it for a short period can be costly: Another study reported in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery found that ignoring it for just two years cost the average person 26% more than they would have paid had they treated their hearing loss. Now consider that hearing loss can be gradual, and it takes time before you recognize that you have it. In fact, the average person with hearing loss waits 7 years before getting help.
Ignoring hearing loss hits your wallet in other ways as well. Over time it affects your work and can reduce your income potential. Better Hearing Institute found that people with untreated hearing loss earn an average of $12,000 less than those with normal hearing.
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