Are hearing aids really worth the money? It’s a question lots of people suffering from hearing loss ask when they look at the price of hearing aids. And yet, at the time you buy a home you never see the cost and state, “well being homeless is less expensive!” You have to go beyond the price to determine the actual worth of hearing aids.
When you are buying a big-ticket item such as this you will have to ask yourself, “what do I get from wearing hearing aids and what’s the expense of not getting them?” If you need hearing aids it will end up costing you more if you don’t buy them. Your eventual choice should really also take these costs into consideration. Hearing aids will save you money in the long run, consider some reasons.
Over Time, Cheap Hearing Aids Tend to wind up Being More Costly
When searching the hearing aids market, you will certainly find less expensive models which appear to be more affordable. You could possibly even buy a hearing aid off of the internet priced 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 buying isn’t a hearing aid but, an amplification device comparable to earbuds or headphones. All they do is turn the volume up on the sound around you, that includes unwanted noise.
You miss out on the most effective functions hearing aids offer, personalized programming. A superior hearing aid can be specifically keyed to your hearing problem which can help prevent it from worsening.
There are also cheap batteries that poor quality devices use for power. What this implies is you can be expecting to shell out money for batteries constantly. You could possibly even have to change the batteries a couple of times daily. When you need them the most, these cheap batteries frequently fail, so make sure to carry lots of extra batteries. Do you actually save cash if you have to replace worn out batteries every day?
Because the electronics are better, the batteries live longer. Many also come with rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need for regular replacements.
Worries at Work
If you actually need hearing aids and you decide not to invest in them, or if you purchase cheap ones, it will cost you at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal says 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 a number of factors involved, but the dominant factor is that communicating is essential in nearly every field. You must be able to hear what your employer says to deliver results. You should be capable of listening to clients to assist them. If you spend the entire conversation trying to hear exactly what words people are saying, you’re likely missing the overall content. Simply put, if you can’t interact in verbal interactions, it is difficult to excel at work.
The battle to hear what people are saying at work exacts a toll on you bodily, as well. Even when you find a way to get through a day with sub-par hearing, the anxiousness that comes with wondering whether you heard something correctly and the energy necessary to make out as much as possible will keep you depleted and stressed out. Some impacts of stress:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the potential to have an impact on your work performance and lower your earnings as a result.
Having to go to the ER more often
There is a safety concern that comes with loss of hearing. Without right hearing aids, it becomes risky for you to cross the road or drive a car. How could you avoid something if you can’t hear it? How about environmental safety systems like a twister warning or smoke detector?
For quite a few jobs, hearing is a must have for work-site safety practices such as construction zones or manufacturing factories. That means that not using hearing aids is not only a safety risk but also something that can minimize your career possibilities.
Financial safety comes into play here, also. Did the waitress tell you that you owe 35 dollars or 85? What did the salesperson say regarding the features on the dishwasher you are shopping for and do you need them? Perhaps the less expensive model is the better choice for you, but it’s hard to tell if you can’t hear the sales clerk discuss the difference.
Brain Health
One of the most crucial problems which come with hearing loss is the increased risk of getting dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Alzheimer’s disease costs people above 56,000 dollars per year. Dementia accounts for 11 billion dollars in Medicare expense per year.
Hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and different kinds of dementia. It has been calculated that someone with significant, untreated hearing loss increases their risk of brain impairment by five fold. A moderate hearing loss carries three times the possibility of dementia, and even a slight hearing problem doubles your risk. Hearing aids can bring the risk back to normal.
Certainly a hearing aid will set you back a bit more. If you examine all the costs associated with going without one or buying a cheaper device, it’s definitely a prudent financial investment. Make an appointment with a hearing aid specialist to find out more.
Don't wait! Early treatment is the most effective treatment.
Talk to the Experts.