During the standard working years, many people build a lot of their perceived self-worth up around their occupation. They base their self-image on what type of job they do, what position they hold, and how much they earn.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone asks, “So what do you do”? It’s most likely to tell them about your occupation.
It’s not enjoyable to consider what would happen if something took your living away. But if you value your job, then you should take note of this career-breaker.
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 untreated hearing impairment. Underemployment is typically 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 use all of their marketable capabilities.
In almost any occupation, individuals with neglected hearing loss face lots of challenges. Doctors need to be capable of hearing their patients. A construction worker has to hear his co-workers in order to work together on a job. Even a librarian would find it hard to help library patrons without her hearing.
Lots of people stay in the same line of work their entire lives. They become quite good at what they do. For them, if they can’t hear well, it would be difficult to switch to a different job and make a decent living.
The Potential Hearing Loss Wage Gap
Somebody with hearing loss makes only around 75 cents to every dollar that somebody with normal hearing earns. This wage gap is supported by numerous independent studies that reveal that an individual loses up to $12,000 in income each year.
The severity of hearing loss is closely correlated with how much they lose. Even individuals with moderate hearing loss are potentially losing money, according to a study of 80,000 people.
What Challenges do People Who Suffer From Hearing Loss Confront on The Job?
Somebody with neglected hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day due to job stress.
From moment to moment, someone with hearing loss experiences stresses that co-workers never recognize. Envision needing to concentrate on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. And missing a crucial piece of information is always a concern.
That’s even more stressful.
Those with untreated 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:
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dementia
- Social Isolation
Reduced productivity is the result of all this. And given the obstacles that a person suffering from hearing loss faces at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an available promotion.
Thankfully, there’s a really bright silver lining to this dismal career outlook.
An Effective Career Strategy
The unemployment and wage gap can be eliminated by getting hearing aids according to some studies.
The wage gap can be erased by 90 – 100% for a person with minor hearing loss who wears hearing aids, as revealed by a study carried out by Better Hearing Institute.
Somebody 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 job with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be corrected it’s not uncommon for people to ignore it during their working years. They feel that losing their hearing is embarrassing. They don’t want to look “older” because of their hearing loss.
They may think that hearing aids are just too costly for them. They most likely don’t comprehend 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 addressing your hearing loss may be costing you more than you think. If you’ve been on the fence about using hearing aids at work, it’s time to get a hearing assessment. Contact us and we can help you determine whether hearing aids would help.
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References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx