Are hearing aids really worth the money? People who suffer from hearing loss are normally concerned with the cost. Even so, at the time you purchase a house you never determine the cost and declare, “well being homeless is less expensive!” What’s more, if you go beyond the cost, you might find that hearing aids are an all around wise financial decision.
Whenever you are shopping for a big-ticket item like this you have to ask yourself, “what do I get out of wearing hearing aids and what’s the cost of not getting them?” If you actually need hearing aids it will wind up costing you more if you don’t purchase them. You need to factor these expenses into your purchase as well. Ultimately hearing aids will save you money. Here’s why.
Inexpensive Hearing Aids Cost More Than You Think
If you have searched the internet for hearing aids, you know that there are cheap, seemingly less expensive ones out there. Actually, if you looked on the Internet, you might purchase a hearing aid for less money than you might spend on a meal.
The issue with over-the-counter hearing devices is that you get what you pay for in quality. What you are really buying is not really a hearing aid but, an amplification device like earbuds or headphones. These devices turn up the sound of everything around you. That includes unwanted background noise.
You miss out on the most effective features hearing aids offer, individualized programming. You can experience a high level of quality by getting a good hearing aid keyed to address your exact hearing requirements.
Some over-the-counter hearing devices use equally cheap batteries, too. Spending lots of additional money on run-down batteries can be expensive. When you use the amplification device regularly, you might wind up replacing the battery once or twice a day. Plan on carrying a lot of extra batteries because the cheap ones frequently die at the exact moment you need them most. Do you actually save money if you have to replace dead batteries every day?
Better technology permits the better quality hearing aids to have a life. Rechargeable batteries in the high-quality hearing aids means no more spending money on new batteries.
Worries at Work
If you actually need hearing aids and you choose not to get them, or if you purchase cheap ones, it will cost you at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal says that adults with hearing loss make less money – up to 25 percent less, and are more likely to be without a job.
Why is this? There are a lot of factors involved, but the dominant factor is that communication is important in nearly every profession. You must be able to listen to what your employer is saying to be able to give good results. You must be able to listen to customers to help them. If you spend the conversation attempting to figure out exactly what words people are saying, you’re probably going missing the total message. Simply put, if you can’t take part in conversations, it is difficult to be on point at work.
The battle to hear what people are saying on the job takes a toll on you physically, also. Even when you do find a way to get through a workday with inadequate hearing, the stress and anxiety associated with worrying about if you heard something correctly plus the energy necessary to hear as much as possible will make you depleted and stressed. Stress impacts:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
All of these have the possibility to alter your job performance and bring down your income as a result.
Having to go to the ER more often
There is a safety concern that comes with loss of hearing. Without correct hearing aids, it is hazardous for you to cross the road or operate a car. How can you avoid something if you can’t hear it? How about public warning systems like a storm warning or smoke alarm?
For a lot of jobs, hearing is a must for work-site safety practices like building and construction zones or processing plants. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not only a safety hazard but also something that can restrict your career choices.
Financial security is a factor here, also. Did the cashier say that you owe 55 dollars or 65? What did the salesperson tell you about the functions on the microwave oven you are shopping for and do you need them? Maybe the less expensive model would be all you would need, but it’s difficult to tell if you can’t hear the sales clerk describe the difference.
Brain Health
One of the most crucial issues that come with hearing loss is the increased danger of dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Alzheimer’s disease costs individuals more than 56,000 dollars per year. Dementia makes up about 11 billion dollars in Medicare expense annually.
Hearing loss is a recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and various other forms of dementia. It is calculated that somebody with severe, untreated hearing loss multiplies their risk of brain degeneration by five fold. A modest hearing loss carries three times the chances of getting dementia, and even a slight hearing issue doubles your risk. Hearing aids will bring the danger back to normal.
Certainly a hearing aid will set you back a little more money. If you examine the many other troubles associated with going without one or buying a cheaper device, it’s clearly a financial choice. Make an appointment with a hearing aid specialist to find out more.
