During the normal working years, many people build a lot of their perceived self-worth up around their job. They base their self-image on what kind of job they do, what position they hold, and how much they earn.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when somebody asks, “So what do you do”? It most likely has something to do with what you do for a living.
People don’t like to have to think about what they’d do if their livelihood was hindered. But if you like your job, then you should take note of this career-breaker.
That career killer is the troublesome link between neglected hearing loss and career success.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
A person with untreated hearing trouble 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 does not utilize all of their marketable skills.
In practically any occupation, people with untreated hearing loss face many difficulties. Doctors need to be capable of hearing their patients. A construction worker needs to hear his co-workers in order to work together on a job. And without the ability to hear, even a librarian would find it hard to help library patrons.
Many individuals work their whole lives in one occupation. They know it very well. For them, if they can’t hear well, it would be difficult to change to a different career and make a decent living.
The Potential Hearing Loss Wage Gap
In addition to unemployment, those with hearing loss all have the tendency to experience a substantial wage gap, making about 75 cents for every dollar someone with normal hearing earns. Many independent studies back this wage gap and show that that gap averages out at about $12,000 lost wages every year.
The extent of hearing loss is directly associated with how much they lose. According to a study conducted on 80,000 individuals, even people with moderate hearing loss are potentially losing money.
What Are Some on The Job Challenges That People With Hearing Loss Experience?
Job stress causes someone with hearing loss to take sick days 5 times more frequently than someone with normal hearing.
From moment to moment, somebody with hearing loss copes with stresses that co-workers never recognize. Imagine needing to focus on hearing and comprehending in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. Now imagine the anxiety of missing something important.
That’s even worse.
While on or off the job, it’s three times more likely that somebody with untreated hearing loss will have a fall. Both impact your ability to do the work.
In addition to on the job concerns, people with neglected hearing loss are at increased danger of:
- Paranoia
- Social Isolation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
All of this results in reduced productivity. People who have hearing loss experience so many difficulties, both at work and in their personal lives, regrettably being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.
Luckily, there’s a really bright upside to this dismal career outlook.
A Career Approach That Works
The unemployment and wage gap can be eliminated by wearing hearing aids according to some studies.
According to a Better Hearing Institute study, somebody with minor hearing loss who uses hearing aids can erase the wage gap by up to 90-100%.
Someone with moderate hearing loss can remove about 77% of the gap. That gets them almost up to the income of an individual in the same job with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be corrected it isn’t uncommon for people to neglect it during their working years. They may feel self-conscious about losing their hearing. It makes them feel old.
They may think that hearing aids are just too expensive for them. Most likely, they don’t know that hearing loss gets worse faster if neglected, not to mention the previously discussed health concerns.
In light of these common objections, these studies hold additional significance. Leaving your hearing unaddressed is likely more costly than you recognize. If you’ve been undecided about using hearing aids at work, it’s time to get a hearing assessment. Call 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
