If your discomfort at not hearing well in restaurants and at parties doesn't motivate you to get hearing aids, perhaps the threat of lost income will.
The study, published in 2005 by the Better Hearing Institute, says that hearing loss negatively affects average household income by up to $12,000 a year, depending on the degree of loss. For those who don't use hearing instruments, the aggregate in lost income is estimated to be at least $100 billion annually. Disclosure: The Better Hearing institute is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by hearing-instrument manufacturers.
The report also estimates that the cost to society in lost income taxes is in excess of $18 billion. Contrary to popular belief, only 37 percent of Americans with some degree of hearing loss are retired; most are working or school-age, the report says.
Of course, those hearing-instrument manufacturers that sponsor the BHI have a keen interest in gaining your business. But if you find your hearing loss increasingly interferes with your life—or if your family and friends tell you they're tired of repeating themselves—it may be time to consider hearing aids. Read our exclusive hearing-aid report, including advice on shopping, buying, and living successfully with hearing aids.
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