During the normal working years, many individuals build a lot of their perceived self-worth up around their job. They base their self-image on what kind of job they have, what position they hold, and how much they make.
When somebody asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind. It’s probably to tell them about 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 there’s a career-breaker out there that should make anybody who loves putting in a good day’s work perk up and listen.
The troubling link between job success and neglected hearing loss is precisely that career killer.
Untreated Hearing Loss Raises Unemployment Rates
Someone with untreated hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. If someone isn’t working full time or has marketable skills that their not using and their not making as much as they should be, that’s defined as underemployed.
In almost any occupation, people with untreated hearing loss face many challenges. 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 hard to help library patrons without her hearing.
Many individuals work their entire lives in one occupation. They know it really well. 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 Impairment Wage Gap
Somebody with hearing loss makes only about 75 cents to every dollar that somebody with normal hearing earns. This wage gap is backed by numerous independent studies that show that an individual loses up to $12,000 in wages each year.
How much they lose closely correlates with the extent of the hearing loss. Even individuals with mild hearing loss are potentially losing money, according to a study of 80,000 people.
What Are Some on The Job Struggles That People With Hearing Loss Experience
Someone with untreated hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day caused by job stress.
From moment to moment, somebody with hearing loss copes with stresses that co-workers never see. Imagine needing to focus on hearing and comprehending in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. Now imagine the stress of missing something important.
That’s even worse.
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. Both impact your ability to do the work.
Somebody with untreated hearing loss is at an increased danger, in addition to job challenges, of the following:
- Dementia
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Isolation
All of this results in decreased productivity. People with hearing loss experience so many obstacles, both at work and in their personal lives, regrettably being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.
Thankfully, there’s a very bright upside to this dismal career outlook.
An Effective Career Solution
The unemployment and wage gap can be eliminated by getting hearing aids according to some studies.
The wage gap can be decreased by 90 – 100% for someone with mild hearing loss who uses hearing aids, as reported by a study done by Better Hearing Institute.
About 77% of that gap can be mitigated for someone with moderate hearing loss. That’s nearly the earning level of somebody who has normal hearing.
In spite of this positive news, many individuals leave their hearing loss untreated during those working years. They feel that losing their hearing is embarrassing. They don’t want to appear “older” because of their hearing loss.
They may think that hearing aids are simply too costly for them. They most likely don’t recognize that if hearing loss is left untreated, it progresses more quickly in addition to causing the other health concerns pointed out above.
These studies are even more compelling when these common objections are taken into consideration. Leaving your hearing untreated is likely more expensive than you know. It’s time to have a hearing exam if you’re trying to determine if you should wear hearing aids at work. Contact 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