During the typical working years, many individuals build much of their perceived self-worth up around their job. They base their self-image on what type of job they have, what position they have, and how much they earn.

What’s the first thing you think when someone asks, “So what do you do”? It most likely has something to do with what you do for a living.

People don’t want to have to think about what they’d do if their job was hindered. 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

A person is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed if they have neglected hearing loss. If a person isn’t working full time or has marketable capabilities that their not making use of and their not making as much money as they should be, that’s defined as underemployed.

In nearly any occupation, individuals with untreated hearing loss experience many difficulties. A doctor needs to hear her patients. If they’re going to efficiently work together, construction workers have to be able to communicate. Even a librarian would find it difficult to help library patrons without her hearing.

Many individuals work their whole lives in one occupation. They become very good at what they do. For them, if they can’t hear well, it would be difficult to change to a different career and make a decent living.

The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Loss

In addition to unemployment, those with hearing loss all have the tendency to suffer a substantial wage gap, making about 75 cents for every dollar somebody with normal hearing makes. Many independent studies back this wage gap and show that that gap averages out at around $12,000 lost wages per year.

The severity of hearing loss is directly linked with how much they lose. According to a study conducted on 80,000 participants, even people with slight hearing loss are potentially losing money.

What Struggles do Individuals Who Suffer From Hearing Loss Confront on The Job?

Job stress causes a person with hearing loss to take sick days 5 times more often than somebody with normal hearing.

From moment to moment, somebody with hearing loss experiences stresses that co-workers never recognize. Picture having to concentrate on hearing and comprehending in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. Now think about the anxiety of missing something significant.

That’s even worse.

Those with neglected hearing loss are also 3 times as likely to have a serious fall or other accident while on or off the job. Your ability to work is impacted.

Somebody with neglected hearing loss is at an increased danger, in addition to job challenges, of the following:

• Anxiety
• Social Isolation
• Dementia
• Paranoia
• Depression

Decreased productivity is the result of all this. And given the obstacles that a person suffering from hearing loss deals with at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an upcoming promotion.

Thankfully, there’s a very bright upside to this dismal career outlook.

An Effective Career Strategy

Studies also show that having your hearing loss treated can eliminate the unemployment and the wage gap.

The wage gap can be decreased by 90 – 100% for somebody with mild hearing loss who wears hearing aids, as revealed by a study done by Better Hearing Institute.

A person with moderate hearing loss can remove about 77% of the gap. That gets them nearly up to the income of an individual in the same field with normal hearing.

Even though hearing loss can be corrected it isn’t uncommon for people to disregard it during their working years. They think that losing their hearing is embarrassing. It makes them feel old.

They may think that hearing aids are just too costly for them. They most likely don’t recognize that if hearing loss is neglected, it progresses more quickly in addition to triggering the other health concerns pointed out above.

These studies are even more significant when these common objections are taken into account. Not treating your hearing loss may be costing you more than you recognize. It’s time to have a hearing exam if you’re trying to determine if you should wear hearing aids at work. Get in touch with us so we can help you make that decision.

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References

https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx