It is a smart monetary decision to get hearing aids. Hearing aids might seem a bit un-affordable at first. However, although a home is an expensive investment, it’s considerably better than actually being homeless. Beyond that, if you look beyond the price, you will probably find that hearing aids are an very practical financial decision.
Ask yourself, prior to purchasing costly items, “what’s the price of deciding against hearing aids and what will I realistically get out of them?” Truth be told, it will most likely end up costing more if you decide not to purchase hearing aids. These expenses should really factor into your choice also. Over time hearing aids will save you money. Here’s why.
Bargain Hearing Aids Become More Expensive Than You Think
If you have searched the internet looking for hearing assistance devices, you realize that there are bargain, apparently more affordable devices out there. You could spend more on a meal than what some cheap hearing aids on the internet will cost you.
You get what you pay for in quality with over-the-counter hearing devices. When you buy these devices, you’re in fact buying an amplification device similar to earbuds, not an actual hearing aid. All they do is crank up the sound around you, including unwanted noise.
Individualized programming is the number one feature of a good hearing aid, that you don’t have if you buy a low priced hearing device. You can maintain a high level of quality by having a good hearing aid keyed to focus on your exact hearing needs.
Store bought hearing devices employ low-quality batteries also. Needing to swap dead batteries regularly can get expensive. You could even need to replace the batteries more than once daily. When it’s most important, these cheap batteries usually quit, so make sure to carry lots of spare batteries. Do you actually save cash if you have to replace dead batteries on a daily basis?
high-quality hearing aids, on the other hand, have superior electronics and consume less power. Rechargeable batteries in the better hearing aids means no more buying batteries.
Career Worries
Opting to not use hearing aids, or purchasing cheaper ones will be costly at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal states that adults with hearing loss often earn less money – up to 25 percent less, and are more likely to be unemployed.
What accounts for this? There are a lot of reasons for this, but the dominant factor is that communicating is essential in virtually every industry. You must be able to listen to what your employer says to deliver results. You must be able to listen to customers to help them. If you spend the discussion attempting to figure out precisely what words a person is saying, you’re probably going to miss out on the entire message. Quite simply, if you cannot engage in verbal interactions, it is really difficult to be on point at work.
The struggle to hear on the job will take a toll on you physically, as well. And if you find some way to make it through a day with inadequate hearing ability, the anxiousness that comes with wondering if you heard something right plus the energy necessary to hear just enough will keep you depleted and stressed out. Stress impacts:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the potential to impair your job performance and bring down your income as a consequence.
Regular Trips to The ER
There are safety issues which come with hearing loss. Without correct hearing aids, it becomes risky for you to go across the road or drive a vehicle. How can you avoid another vehicle if you can’t hear it? How about environmental warning systems like a twister warning or smoke detector?
For many jobs, hearing is a must for work-site safety like building and construction zones or processing plants. That means that not wearing hearing aids is not only a safety risk but something that can restrict your career choices.
Financial security comes into play here, too. Did the waitress tell you that you owe 25 dollars or 75? What did the salesperson tell you about the functions on the Television you are looking at and do you actually need them? Perhaps the lower cost model is the better choice for you, but it’s difficult to know if you can’t hear the salesperson explain the difference.
Brain Health
One of the most important issues which come with hearing loss is the increased possibility of dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine has found that Alzheimer’s disease costs individuals above 56,000 dollars per year. Dementia accounts for 11 billion dollars in Medicare costs yearly.
Hearing loss is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It has been estimated that somebody with significant, neglected hearing loss increases their chances of brain degeneration by five times. A moderate hearing loss carries three times the chances of dementia, and even a minor hearing problem doubles your likelihood. Hearing aids will bring the chances back to normal.
Without a doubt a hearing aid is going to cost you a bit more. When you look at all the costs that come with not having one or buying a cheaper device, it’s undoubtedly a monetary decision. Consult a hearing care professional to learn more about hearing aids.