Hearing loss affects more than 38 million adults in the United States. A large portion of them are over 70, but middle-aged adults can also be affected to varying degrees. Research shows that people with untreated hearing loss generally spend more on health care than those with no hearing loss or those who have received treatment.
What is the link between untreated hearing loss and higher health care spending?
Several studies have shown that both older and middle-aged adults whose hearing loss remains untreated have higher overall health care costs. According to one of these studies, seniors with hearing impairment could spend $22,000 more on health care over a 10-year period. Another study found that middle-aged people with hearing loss spent 33% more on health care over an 18-month period than those without it. Furthermore, middle-aged adults are less inclined than seniors to consult a hearing professional. It is estimated that 20% of older people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them; among middle-aged adults, this figure is closer to 13%.
Conditions strongly correlated with untreated hearing loss
These studies tracked total health care spending, including costs unrelated to hearing. The study focusing on seniors took place over 10 years, and during that time, data showed that people whose hearing loss was not treated developed certain conditions more frequently: a 30% higher risk of a serious fall, a 40% higher risk of suffering from depression, and a 50% higher risk of developing dementia. People with hearing difficulties visited the emergency room more frequently and required hospitalization more often. The risk of hospital readmission within 30 days was also higher.
The link between untreated hearing loss and adverse health effects
These studies highlighted a correlation between hearing loss, increased health care spending, and higher health risks. In other words, when hearing loss was present, these risks and additional costs were also more likely to be present. However, this work did not examine the potential causal relationship between untreated hearing loss and deteriorating health. Nevertheless, it is suggested that people with hearing impairment sometimes avoid seeing a doctor for non-hearing-related health issues due to communication difficulties. And when a patient with hearing loss does consult a doctor, it can be complicated to exchange information to develop a treatment plan, and the patient risks misunderstanding the instructions provided.
The costs of hearing loss not directly related to health care
By analyzing the global cost of untreated hearing loss, the World Health Organization has evaluated several types of costs. Among these are intangible costs, which include the grief related to this loss and the social stigma associated with not being able to hear. These intangible losses can contribute to depression and other psychological disorders, which establishes an indirect link to health care.
What does untreated hearing loss cost society as a whole?
Although the majority of people in need of hearing aids are seniors with presbycusis, Medicare does not cover hearing aids. As Medicare is a government-funded program, the cost of treating conditions correlated with hearing loss ultimately falls on taxpayers. In 2021, Representative Debbie Dingell introduced a bill in the House of Representatives aimed at having hearing aids covered by Medicare. The text was referred to committee, and its fate remains uncertain to this day. Even if it were eventually passed, it would change nothing for middle-aged adults whose hearing loss is untreated and who are not yet eligible for Medicare. Participants in the study focused on middle-aged people with hearing loss had private insurance. However, the cost of treating conditions correlated with hearing loss can drive up premiums for all policyholders in the same portfolio, whether or not they suffer from hearing impairment. Additionally, hearing loss can push some people out of the workforce, resulting in a loss of productivity. An economic analysis published in The Lancet concluded that every dollar invested by the United States in the treatment of hearing loss could return $15. The monetary value of health benefits would reach $1.3 trillion. Productivity gains would be even greater, exceeding $2 trillion.
Why does hearing loss so often remain untreated?
There are many reasons why people who would benefit greatly from wearing hearing aids do not use them. Price is one of the main obstacles. A pair of hearing aids can exceed $6,000 on the market. The equipment itself represents only a fraction of this sum: most hearing aids are manufactured for less than $100. The cost primarily comes from appointments with the hearing aid specialist to test hearing and adjust the devices. Since Medicare does not cover hearing aids, and private insurers do not always do so either, this expense generally remains the responsibility of the patient. For many people in need, a significant portion of whom live on a fixed income, the price is simply too high, even with financing solutions offered by many manufacturers and distributors. Congress has recognized the difficulties many people face in obtaining equipment. In addition to the Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act, which is still pending, Congress also passed a law in 2017 that went into effect in 2020, facilitating access to over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. With OTC hearing aids, it is no longer necessary to consult a hearing aid specialist to obtain an amplification device. The overall cost of equipment is thus considerably reduced.
How can CLARIA help you deal with untreated hearing loss?
We offer safe, discreet, and fully rechargeable hearing aids, manufactured in an FDA-registered facility. We deliver them directly from the factory to your door. Because we eliminate the middlemen—hearing aid specialists, salespeople—we offer our hearing aids at a fraction of the usual price, with some models costing less than $100 a pair. No one should have to suffer from untreated hearing loss because the price of hearing aids is prohibitive. Discover our latest hearing aid, the Atom Pro from CLARIA.
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