It is a intelligent monetary choice to invest in hearing aids. It’s a worry lots of people having hearing loss ask when they look at the price tag of hearing aids. However, when you purchase a house you don’t determine the cost and say, “well being homeless is less expensive!” You must go beyond the cost to decide the true value of hearing aids.
“What’s the price I would pay for deciding against getting hearing aids, and what would I actually get out of investing in them?” These are some relevant questions when considering whether you should buy a high priced item. The fact is, there is a financial cost for choosing not to buy hearing aids. You will need to factor these costs into your purchase also. Hearing aids will save you money in the long run, consider some reasons.
Cheap Hearing Aids Cost More Than You Might Think
While searching the hearing aids market place, you will undoubtedly find cheaper models which seem to be less expensive. You could spend more on a meal than what some cheap hearing aids on the web might cost.
You get what you pay for in quality with over-the-counter hearing devices. When you purchase these devices, you are in fact purchasing an amplification device much like earbuds, not a hearing aid. These devices crank up the sound of everything around you. That includes unwanted background noise.
With cheap hearing devices you don’t get the most important features, such as customized programming. A quality hearing aid can be especially keyed to your hearing needs which will help prevent it from worsening.
Many over-the-counter hearing devices are powered by equally cheap batteries, too. What this means is you can be expecting to shell out money for batteries on a regular basis. When you wear the amplification device daily, you could wind up switching the battery up to a couple of times per day. When you need them the most, these cheap batteries frequently fail, so be sure to carry a lot of extra batteries. When you total up the money you pay for the extra batteries, do you actually save anything?
Because the technology is better, the batteries stay alive longer. Rechargeable batteries in the better hearing aids means no more buying batteries.
Work Related Concerns
Choosing to not use hearing aids, or choosing inexpensive ones can be costly at your job. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal says that adults that have hearing loss make less money – as much as 25 percent less, and are more likely to be without a job.
Why is this? There are numerous reasons for this, but the dominant factor is that conversation is important in pretty much every profession. You must be able to listen to what your supervisor is saying to deliver results. You must be able to listen to customers to assist them. When you spend the discussion attempting to hear exactly what words people are saying, you’re likely to miss out on the general content. Quite simply, if you can’t engage in discussions, it is hard to succeed at work.
The battle to hear what people are saying at work will take a toll on you bodily, as well. Even when you do find some way to make it through a workday with sub-par hearing, the anxiousness associated with wondering if you heard everything correctly and the energy needed to make out just enough will make you fatigued and stressed. Some impacts of stress:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the potential to hinder your work efficiency and reduce your income as a consequence.
Having to go to the ER more often
There are safety issues which come with hearing loss. Without appropriate hearing aids, it becomes dangerous for you to cross the road or drive a vehicle. How could you avoid something if you can’t hear it? How about environmental safety systems like a storm alert or smoke detector?
For a lot of jobs, hearing is a must have for workplace safety like construction zones or manufacturing plants. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not only a safety hazard but something that can restrict your career options.
Financial safety is a factor here, too. Did the cashier say that you owe 35 dollars or 75? What did the salesperson say about the functions on the Television you are shopping for and do you need them? Perhaps the lower cost unit is the better choice for you, but it’s hard to tell if you can’t hear the salesperson discuss the difference.
The Health of Your Brain
One of the most crucial concerns which come with hearing loss is the increased chances of getting dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Alzheimer’s disease costs sufferers above 56,000 dollars a year. Dementia makes up about 11 billion dollars in Medicare expense annually.
Hearing loss is a recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and some other types of dementia. It is estimated that somebody with acute, neglected hearing loss multiplies their risk of brain degeneration by five times. A modest hearing loss comes with three times the risk of dementia, and even a minor hearing issue doubles your chances. Hearing aids bring the risk back to normal.
Certainly a hearing aid is going to cost you a little more money. If you examine the many other problems associated with going without one or buying a cheaper device, it’s definitely a good monetary choice. Make an appointment with a hearing aid specialist to find out more.