Regarding hearing loss, the numbers say everything. As an illustration, globally, over 466 million individuals suffer from some type of hearing issue. Or that about 10% of the population has tinnitus, a chronic ringing in the ears? Possibly, the most troubling statistic is the fact that only 16% of people who need hearing aids have ever used them.
There are numerous reasons why somebody who requires a hearing aid might not use one. They may choose to suffer silently because they are anxious about a possible stigma linked to aging or are too prideful to wear a hearing aid.
Cost is often another worry. It can be relatively challenging to get assistance paying for hearing aids and they can be pretty costly.
Hearing aids are, however, the best available option for the majority of people who have hearing loss, and there are other services and assistance available to people who could not otherwise afford hearing aids.
The Real Cost of Not Wearing Hearing Aids
Sadly, the consequence of not purchasing a hearing aid when you need one can have a bigger cost than actually buying one. Solitude, anxiety, and depression are more common in individuals with hearing loss and they also have a higher instance of mental health conditions. When both the potential future health issues, and the quality of life challenges are added up, the cost of not getting hearing aids is considerable. In fact, research has shown that ignoring hearing loss can increase your healthcare costs by up to 40%.
And the fact that there are a number of ways to make hearing aids more affordable makes this even more surprising.
Finding Affordable Hearing Aids
If you need hearing aids but can’t afford them, there are several ways you can still get them. The Starkey Hearing Foundation gives over 100,000 hearing aids each year to individuals that have hearing loss who otherwise could not afford treatments. Other groups and organizations offer financial help and refurbished hearing aids at a discounted price to people with limited incomes.
Finding Affordable Hearing Aids – The First Step
Getting a hearing test to figure out what level and kind of hearing loss you have is step one. Your hearing test results will point you in the right direction and you can then look at solutions. Whether insurance, Veteran’s associations, or other avenues can help is also something we can help with.
In most cases, with a little effort, you can uncover a solution that will fit your budget.
Let us help.