Are hearing aids honestly worth the money? Hearing aids might sound a bit expensive at first. However, while a home is an expensive purchase, it’s better than being homeless. You must go past the price to identify the true worth of hearing aids.
“What is the cost of not getting hearing aids, and what would I truly get from purchasing them?” These are some relevant questions to ask when deciding on whether or not to buy a expensive item. The fact is, there is a monetary cost for choosing not to buy hearing aids. You need to factor these expenses into your decision also. In the long run hearing aids can save you money. Here’s why.
You Will end up Paying More for Deciding on Inexpensive Hearing Aids
If you have ever searched the internet for hearing assistance devices, you understand that there are low priced, apparently more affordable devices available. You could possibly pay more for a meal than what some budget hearing aids on the web might cost.
You get what you pay for in quality with over-the-counter hearing devices. When you buy these devices, you are really buying an amplification device much like earbuds, not an actual hearing aid. The problem with these bargain devices is that they crank the background noises up.
Personalized programming is the number one function of a top-notch hearing aid, that you don’t have if you buy a low-cost hearing device. You can achieve a high degree of quality by having your real hearing aid tuned to target your specific hearing needs.
The majority of store bought hearing devices are powered by equally cheap batteries, too. Spending large amounts of extra cash on worn out batteries will be expensive. You might even have to change the batteries a couple of times daily. When you need them the most, these cheap batteries usually quit, so don’t forget to bring lots of spare batteries. When you add up the money you pay for the extra batteries, do you actually save anything?
Better electronics enables the better quality hearing aids to have a much longer life. Rechargeable batteries in the high-quality hearing aids means no more spending money on batteries.
Work Related Concerns
If you need hearing aids and you decide not to invest in them, or if you choose cheaper ones, it will cost you at work. A 2013 study published in The Hearing Journal states that adults that have hearing loss usually earn less money – as much as 25 percent less, and are more likely to be without a job.
Why is this? There are a number of reasons for this, but the basic explanation is that conversation is critical in almost every industry. You must be able to hear what your employer is saying to be able to give good results. You should be capable of listening to clients to assist them. When you spend the entire discussion trying to figure out what words a person is saying, you’re much more likely to miss out on the overall message. Put simply, if you can’t take part in discussions, it’s difficult to be on point at work.
The battle to hear what people are saying at the workplace takes a toll on you physically, as well. Even when you manage to get through a day with inadequate hearing, the anxiousness associated with wondering whether you heard something correctly plus the energy necessary to hear as much as you can will make you exhausted and stressed. Here are some impacts associated with stress:
- Your immune system
- Your ability to sleep
- Your relationships
- Your quality of life
These all have the possibility to alter your work efficiency and decrease your earnings as a result.
Regular Trips to The ER
There are safety issues which come with the loss of hearing. Without right hearing aids, it is risky for you to go across the road or drive a vehicle. How could you avoid another vehicle if you can’t hear it? What about environmental warning systems like a twister warning or smoke alarm?
For many jobs, hearing is a must for job-site safety like building and construction sites or production factories. That means that not using hearing aids is not only a safety hazard but something that can minimize your career possibilities.
Financial safety is a factor here, also. Did the waitress tell you that you owe 35 dollars or 65? What did the salesperson tell you about the functions on the dishwasher you are shopping for and do you actually need them? Perhaps the less expensive unit is the better choice for you, but it is hard to know if you can’t hear the sales clerk discuss the difference.
The Health of Your Brain
One of the most critical problems that come with hearing loss is the increased possibility of getting dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Alzheimer’s disease costs people above 56,000 dollars a year. Dementia accounts for 11 billion dollars in Medicare expense per year.
Hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It has been calculated that a person with extreme, untreated hearing loss increases their risk of brain degeneration by five times. A moderate hearing loss comes with three times the chances of dementia, and even a minimal hearing problem doubles your chances. Hearing aids can bring the risk back to a regular amount.
Certainly a hearing aid is going to cost you a little more money. If you examine the many other problems that come with going without one or buying a cheaper device, it’s surely a smart financial investment. Make an appointment with a hearing specialist to learn more.
