When people are at an age where they are still working, their job is often a huge part of their self-worth. They base their self-image on what kind of job they have, what position they hold, and how much they make.
What’s the first thing you think when somebody asks, “So what do you do”? It’s probably to tell them about your occupation.
It’s not pleasant to think about what you would do if something took your career away. But if you value your job, then you should be aware of this career-buster.
The troubling link between job success and neglected hearing loss is precisely that livelihood killer.
Untreated Hearing Loss Raises Unemployment Rates
A person with untreated hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. Underemployment is generally defined as the condition of employees not earning up to their potential, either because they aren’t working full time or because the work does not utilize all of their marketable capabilities.
Those who have untreated hearing loss face many obstacles in almost any occupation. Doctors need to be capable of hearing their patients. If they’re going to safely work together, construction workers need to be able to communicate. And without the ability to hear, even a librarian would find it difficult to help library patrons.
Many people work their whole lives in one line of work. They know it very well. If they can no longer perform that job well due to untreated hearing loss, it’s tough to make a living doing something different.
The Potential Hearing Impairment Wage Gap
Somebody with hearing loss earns only around 75 cents to every dollar that someone with normal hearing earns. This wage gap is supported by many independent studies that reveal that a person loses as much as $12,000 in wages every year.
How much they lose directly correlates with the severity of the hearing impairment. According to a study conducted on 80,000 participants, even people with moderate hearing loss are potentially losing money.
What Are Some on The Job Struggles That Individuals With Hearing Loss Face
Job stress causes somebody with hearing loss to take sick days 5 times more often than somebody with functional hearing.
From moment to moment, someone with hearing loss copes with stresses that co-workers never see. Envision having to focus on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. And missing an important piece of information is always a concern.
That’s even worse.
While at work or at home, it’s three times more likely that someone with untreated hearing loss will have a fall. Your ability to work is impacted.
Someone with neglected hearing loss is at an increased risk, in addition to job concerns, of the following:
- Paranoia
- Dementia
- Anxiety
- Social Isolation
- Depression
Decreased productivity is the result of all this. And given the challenges that someone suffering from hearing loss experiences at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an upcoming promotion.
Luckily, there’s a really bright silver lining to this dismal career outlook.
A Career Strategy That Works
Studies also reveal that having your hearing loss treated can cancel out the unemployment and the wage gap.
According to a Better Hearing Institute study, somebody with slight hearing loss who wears hearing aids can erase the wage gap by as much as 90-100%.
About 77% of that gap can be removed for somebody with moderate hearing loss. That gets them nearly up to the earning of an individual in the same field with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be managed it’s not uncommon for people to disregard it during their working years. They may feel embarrassed about losing their hearing. They don’t want to look “older” because of their hearing loss.
They may assume that hearing aids are just too costly for them. They probably don’t comprehend that if hearing loss is neglected, it progresses more quickly in addition to triggering the other health concerns mentioned above.
Considering these common objections, these studies hold added significance. Not dealing with your hearing loss may be costing you more than you recognize. It’s time to get a hearing exam if you’re trying to determine if you should wear hearing aids at work. Contact us and we can help you figure out whether hearing aids would help.
References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx