When people are at an age where they are still working, their job is often a large part of their self-worth. They base their self-image on what kind of job they do, what position they hold, and how much they make.
When someone asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind. It’s probably to tell them about your occupation.
It’s not enjoyable to think about what you would do if something took your living away. But there’s a career-breaker out there that should make anybody who loves putting in a good day’s work pay attention.
That livelihood killer is the disturbing link between neglected hearing loss and career success.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
Someone with untreated hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. Underemployment is commonly defined as the condition of employees not earning up to their potential, either because they are not working full time or because the work doesn’t make use of all of their marketable skills.
In almost any occupation, people with untreated hearing loss face many difficulties. Doctors need to be capable of hearing their patients. A construction worker has to hear his co-workers in order to work with each other on a job. Even a librarian would find it hard to help library patrons without her hearing.
Lots of people stay in the same occupation their entire lives. They become quite good at what they do. If they can no longer do that job well due to untreated hearing loss, it’s difficult to make a living doing something else.
The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Loss
On top of unemployment, those with hearing impairment all tend to experience a substantial wage gap, making around 75 cents for every dollar someone with normal hearing makes. This wage gap is supported by many independent studies that reveal that a person loses as much as $12,000 in income each year.
The severity of hearing loss is strongly linked with how much they lose. Even individuals with mild hearing loss are potentially losing money, according to a study of 80,000 people.
What Are Some on The Job Challenges That People With Hearing Loss Experience?
Somebody with untreated hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day as a result of job stress.
From moment to moment, somebody with hearing loss experiences stresses that co-workers never recognize. Imagine having to focus on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. Now think about the stress of missing something significant.
That’s even more stressful.
While at work or at home, it’s three times more likely that somebody with neglected hearing loss will suffer from a fall. Both impact your ability to do the work.
Somebody with untreated hearing loss is at an increased danger, in addition to job concerns, of the following:
- Dementia
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Social Isolation
- Depression
Decreased productivity is the consequence of all this. People with hearing loss experience so many obstacles, both at work and in their personal lives, unfortunately being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.
Luckily, this sad career prospect has an upside.
An Effective Career Strategy
The unemployment and wage gap can be eliminated by wearing hearing aids according to some studies.
The wage gap can be decreased by 90 – 100% for a person with mild hearing loss who wears hearing aids, as reported by a study conducted by Better Hearing Institute.
Someone with moderate hearing loss can get rid of about 77% of the gap. That gets them nearly up to the earning of an individual in the same job with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be managed it’s not uncommon for people to disregard it during their working years. They might feel embarrassed about losing their hearing. They don’t want to seem “older” because of their hearing loss.
Hearing aids may seem too costly. Most likely, they don’t know that hearing loss gets worse faster if neglected, not to mention the previously mentioned health concerns.
These studies are even more significant when these common objections are taken into consideration. Not dealing with your hearing loss may be costing you more than you think. It’s time to get a hearing exam if you’re trying to determine if you should use hearing aids at work. Contact us and we can help you decide whether hearing aids would help.
References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx
