Are hearing aids really worth the money? People who have hearing loss are usually worried about the expense. However, although a house is a costly investment, it’s much better than actually being homeless. The real value of hearing aids is about a lot more than the price.
Ask yourself, when buying costly items, “what’s the cost of not getting hearing aids and what will I actually get from them?” As it so happens, there is a monetary cost for deciding not to get hearing aids. You should factor these expenses into your choice as well. Ultimately hearing aids will save you money. Here’s why.
Over Time, Cheap Hearing Aids Tend to end up Being More Expensive
There certainly are low priced hearing aids out there which appear less expensive. You could possibly even pick up a hearing aid off of the internet costing even less than a dinner.
The issue with over-the-counter hearing devices is that you get what you pay for in quality. What you are really getting is not really a hearing aid but, an amplification device similar to earbuds or headphones. These devices crank up the sound of everything around you. That includes unwanted background noise.
You lose out on the most effective functions hearing aids offer, customized programming. You can get a high level of quality by having your good hearing aid tuned to target your specific hearing needs.
Some store bought hearing devices run on equally cheap batteries, too. Spending large amounts of extra cash on worn out batteries will be expensive. You might even need to change the batteries more than once daily. Plan on carrying lots of replacement batteries because the cheap ones regularly fail at the exact moment you actually need them most. Do you actually save money if you need to replace dead batteries every day?
high-quality hearing aids, however, have better electronics and use less power. Some even have rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need for regular replacements.
Work Related Concerns
Choosing to go without hearing aids, or purchasing inexpensive ones will be costly at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal reports that adults that have hearing loss make less money – as high as 25 percent less, and are more likely to be unemployed.
Why is this? There are quite a few of factors involved, but the basic explanation is that conversation is important in nearly every profession. You must be able to listen to what your employer says to be able to give good results. You should be capable of listening to customers to assist them. If you spend the entire discussion trying to figure out precisely what words people are saying, you’re much more likely to miss out on the general message. Put simply, if you cannot take part in verbal interactions, it’s very hard to be on point at work.
The effort to hear what people are saying on the job exacts a toll on you bodily, as well. Even if you find a way to make it through a workday with inadequate hearing, the stress that comes with worrying about whether you heard something right plus the energy required to make out as much as possible will make you fatigued and stressed out. Stress impacts:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the possibility to impair your job efficiency and bring down your earnings as a consequence.
Having to go to the ER more often
There are safety issues which come with hearing loss. Without correct hearing aids, it is risky for you to go across the street or drive a car or truck. How can you avoid something if you can’t hear it? How about environmental warning systems like a twister warning or smoke alarm?
For some jobs, hearing is a must for job-site safety practices such as construction sites or processing plants. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not just a safety hazard but something that can limit your career choices.
Financial safety is a factor here, as well. Did the cashier tell you that you owe 35 dollars or 75? What did the salesperson say regarding the features on the dishwasher you are looking at and do you actually need them? Perhaps the lower cost unit is the better choice for you, but it’s difficult to know if you can’t hear the clerk explain the difference.
The Health of Your Brain
One of the most important issues which come with hearing loss is the increased chances of dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine has found that Alzheimer’s disease costs people more than 56,000 dollars per year. Dementia accounts for 11 billion dollars in Medicare expenditure annually.
Hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. It is estimated that someone with significant, neglected hearing loss increases their possibility of brain degeneration by five fold. A moderate hearing loss comes with three times the chances of getting dementia, and even a minor hearing issue doubles your likelihood. Hearing aids bring the risk back to normal.
Without a doubt a hearing aid is going to cost you a bit. If you examine the many other troubles associated with going without one or buying a cheaper device, it’s obviously a financial plan. Make an appointment with a hearing aid specialist to find out more.