In some areas of your life, hearing loss has a negative impact – it can raise the likelihood of depression and dementia and decrease the ability to communicate with others. Age-related hearing loss, which typically affects individuals over age 50 and becomes more prevalent among those over 75, can also affect your job prospects.
According to the Hearing Health Foundation, people with severe hearing loss have an unemployment rate (15.6%) twice that of the average hearing population (7.8%) and almost double that of their peers (8.3%) who use hearing aids.
Understanding Hearing Loss
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is a common condition affecting millions worldwide, impacting their ability to hear sounds clearly. This condition can range from mild to profound, significantly affecting one’s quality of life. Various factors, including age, exposure to loud noises, ear infections, and certain medications, can cause hearing loss. Sometimes, it may also result from genetic conditions or birth defects.
There are different types of hearing loss, each with its causes and characteristics. Conductive hearing loss occurs when a problem in the middle ear, such as a blockage or infection, prevents sound from being conducted properly. On the other hand, sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, often resulting from exposure to loud noises or age-related changes. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Why Do Adults Suffering Hearing Loss Face Higher Unemployment Rates?
Following Conversations
Coping with chronic hearing loss makes monitoring conversations at home and work arduous. You may have trouble hearing and struggle to follow lunch break conversations with coworkers or keep up-to-date on everything that happens at the office. You’ll also find it difficult to follow what was said during meetings or a one-on-one conversation with your employer.
Difficulty With Background Noise
If you have hearing problems, you’ll be unable to hear comfortably in environments with background noise, especially if you have been exposed to loud noise. Because of your hearing loss, your ears and brain can not distinguish between essential vocal and loud sounds in the background. During talks or engaged in a call with a client who is in public, you can hear all these sounds simultaneously and have a tough time.
Poor Work Performance
When you cannot follow instructions or attend meetings, you may not be able to do your best job, and workers with chronic hearing loss are more likely to make mistakes. Individuals with profound hearing loss may face even greater challenges in performing their job duties effectively. They are often ignored for promotions and are more likely to be fired.
What Can Be Done To Reduce Unemployment Rate Among Hearing Loss Sufferers?
There are two ways a worker could be out of work: by getting fired or by not getting the job in the first place. Therefore, attention must be paid to improving the worker’s prospects in both scenarios. Let’s look at ways to help in both instances.
#1: Tips for those already in a job
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects workers from disability-based discrimination. If you have hearing loss, you are entitled to request accommodations. Damage to the inner ear can lead to hearing loss, but accommodations can help mitigate its impact on job performance. Your employer will work with you to ensure you have everything you need to do your best work.
These are some of the accommodations you can ask for:
- Ask to move to a quieter corner of the office if you work in a noisy cubicle or office and the noise makes it difficult to concentrate when working or talking on the phone.
- Ask for meeting notes before a meeting so you can contribute meaningfully to the discussion.
- Ask during meetings to sit near the speaker or hear and understand what’s being said.
- Ask for any assignments and instructions in an email. This will ensure you are on the same page as your employer and clearly understand your duties.
#2: Tips for those who are interviewing
If you’re a job seeker, here are some ideas for acing the interview:
Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss may face unique challenges during interviews and should prepare accordingly.
- Do Your Homework
- Before the interview, ensure you clearly understand the job requirements and responsibilities. Additionally, providing the ear canal is clear of blockages can help improve hearing during the interview, as blockages can lead to hearing issues like tinnitus.
- Consider The Environment
- Position yourself so that the speaker can be seen. If there are noise distractions, politely ask to move to a quieter area. Job seekers should position themselves away from sources of loud noise during interviews to avoid any detrimental effects on their hearing. Issues with the middle ear can affect hearing in noisy environments, so job seekers should position themselves accordingly. If you wear hearing aids, double-check that they are set to the right program before the interview.
- Be Unapologetic And Open About Your Hearing Loss
- Consider offering details about how you effectively coped with your hearing loss at work. Being open and transparent during the interview can go a long way toward improving communication and helping both you and the interviewer feel at ease. Additionally, individuals should be aware of sudden hearing loss, a rapid and unexplained loss of hearing that may occur suddenly or gradually over several days. It is categorized as a medical emergency requiring immediate healthcare professional attention.
Workplace Accommodations
Supporting Employees with Hearing Loss
Workplace accommodations can significantly improve the work experience for employees with hearing loss. Employers can take several steps to support these employees and ensure they can perform their duties effectively and safely.
- Provide Assistive Technology: Employers can offer devices such as amplified telephones, hearing aids, and personal listening systems to help employees with hearing loss communicate more effectively. These tools can significantly reduce the impact of background noise and enhance speech clarity.
- Modify the Work Environment: Simple changes, such as installing sound-absorbing materials or providing quiet workspaces, can help minimize the impact of loud noises. Employers can also ensure that meeting rooms are equipped with hearing loops or other assistive listening devices to support employees with hearing loss.
- Offer Flexible Communication Options: To facilitate communication, encourage the use of email, instant messaging, and video calls with captions. Providing written summaries of meetings and instructions can also help employees with hearing loss stay informed and engaged.
- Educate and Train Staff: Raising awareness about hearing loss and its challenges can foster a more inclusive work environment. Employers can provide training sessions to educate staff on communicating effectively with colleagues with hearing loss, such as speaking, facing the person, and reducing background noise during conversations.
- Regular Hearing Tests: Encourage employees to undergo regular hearing tests to monitor their hearing health. Early detection of hearing loss can lead to timely interventions, such as using hearing aids, which can significantly improve job performance and reduce the risk of unemployment.
Hearing Aids Are Always A Good Idea
With speech enhancement features and reductions in background noise, hearing aids make it easier to hear, whether in the interview stage or already at work. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can help those with hearing loss excel at work, communicate comfortably with coworkers, raise incomes, and reduce the likelihood of higher unemployment rates among those with hearing loss. Hearing aids can also help manage permanent hearing loss and improve job performance.
Enticare
If you want to improve your employment prospects with hearing aids, come and talk to us! We will help you find something that suits your industry and hearing loss needs. Individuals experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss should seek immediate professional help to improve their employment prospects.