Hearing aids are a worthwhile financial investment. People who suffer from hearing loss are often worried about the price. However, although a house is a costly purchase, it’s better than actually being homeless. You must go further than the price to determine the real worth of hearing aids.
Whenever you are buying a big-ticket item such as this you really need to ask yourself, “what do I get out of using hearing aids and what’s the impact of not having them?” If you actually need hearing aids it will wind up costing you more if you don’t purchase them. Your eventual purchase needs to also take these expenses into account. Hearing aids will save you money in the long run. Consider some reasons.
Cheap Hearing Aids Cost More Than You Would Think
If you have searched the internet looking for hearing aids, you understand that there are bargain, seemingly more affordable ones available. Actually, if you checked on the web, you might possibly buy a hearing aid for less money than you might pay for dinner.
You can expect to get what you pay for in quality when you purchase over-the-counter hearing devices. When you purchase these devices, you are really purchasing an amplification device similar to earbuds, not a hearing aid. These devices crank up the sound of everything around you. That includes unwanted background noise.
Personalized programming is the top feature of a high-quality hearing aid, that you don’t have when buying a low priced hearing device. Keeping your hearing aid tuned to fix your specific hearing issue can stop it from getting more serious and give you with outstanding hearing quality.
There are also bargain batteries which low grade devices use for power. What this means is that you can expect to shell out cash for batteries regularly. When you wear the amplification device daily, you could very well end up switching the battery up to a couple of times per day. The battery is likely to quit working when you need it the most, also, so plan on carrying a lot of extras around with you everywhere you go. When you add up the amount of money you shell out for the new batteries, do you actually save anything?
Because the technology is superior, the batteries live longer. Many also have rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need for frequent replacements.
Issues at Work
Whether you choose to struggle with cheap hearing aids or go without them altogether, it’s a choice that will certainly cost you at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal reports that adults that have hearing loss usually earn less money – up to 25 percent less, and are more likely to be unemployed.
Why is this? There are a number of reasons for this, but the basic explanation is that conversation is important in nearly every field. You have to listen to what your supervisor is saying to deliver results. You must be able to listen to clients to assist them. If you spend the discussion trying to figure out exactly what words a person is saying, you’re likely missing the entire message. Put simply, if you cannot take part in discussions, it is challenging to be on point at work.
The effort to hear on the job exacts a toll on you bodily, as well. And if you manage to get through a workday with inadequate hearing ability, the anxiousness that comes with wondering whether you heard everything correctly and the energy needed to hear as much as you can will keep you depleted and stressed. Some impacts of stress:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the possibility to have an affect on your work efficiency and reduce 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 appropriate hearing aids, it becomes hazardous for you to cross the street or operate a vehicle. How could you avoid something if you can’t hear it? How about public warning systems like a storm warning or smoke alarm?
For a number of jobs, hearing is a must have for work-site safety practices such as building and construction sites or manufacturing factories. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not just a safety risk but something that can limit your career choices.
Financial safety comes into play here, too. Did the cashier tell you that you owe 35 dollars or 85? What did the salesperson tell you about the features of the microwave oven you are shopping for and do you need them? Maybe the less expensive unit would be all you would need, but it’s difficult to tell if you can’t hear the salesperson explain the difference.
The Health of Your Brain
One of the most critical issues which come with hearing loss is the increased risk of dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine has found that Alzheimer’s disease costs people above 56,000 dollars a year. Dementia accounts for 11 billion dollars in Medicare expenditure every year.
Hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and various other forms of dementia. It has been calculated that somebody with extreme, untreated hearing loss increases their risk of brain impairment by five times. A modest hearing loss comes with three times the risk of dementia, and even a minor hearing problem doubles your risk. Hearing aids bring the risk back to a regular amount.
There is little doubt that a hearing aid will probably cost a bit. If you examine the many other concerns associated with not having one or buying a cheaper device, it’s undoubtedly a prudent monetary decision. Make an appointment with a hearing specialist to learn more.