During the typical working years, many individuals build much of their perceived self-worth up around their occupation. They base their self-image on what kind of job they do, what position they have, 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 job was hampered. But if you like your job, then you should be aware of this career-buster.
That livelihood killer is the troublesome link between neglected hearing loss and job success.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
A person with untreated hearing trouble is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. If someone isn’t working full time or has marketable skills that their not making use of and their not earning as much money as they should be, that’s defined as underemployed.
Those who have neglected hearing loss face countless challenges in nearly any occupation. Doctors need to be able to hear their patients. A construction worker needs to hear his co-workers in order to work with each other on a job. Even a librarian would find it hard to assist library patrons without her hearing.
Lots of people remain in the same occupation their whole lives. They know it really well. 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 Impairment
Along with unemployment, those with hearing impairment all tend to experience a substantial wage gap, making around 75 cents for every dollar a person with normal hearing makes. This wage gap is supported by many independent studies that show that an individual loses as much as $12,000 in wages every year.
The degree of hearing loss is strongly correlated with how much they lose. According to a study conducted on 80,000 individuals, even people with slight hearing loss are potentially losing money.
What Struggles do People With Hearing Loss Face on The Job?
Someone with neglected hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day caused by job stress.
From moment to moment, someone with hearing loss copes with stresses that co-workers never see. Picture needing to concentrate on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others just take hearing for granted. Now imagine the anxiety of missing something significant.
That’s even more stressful.
While at work or at home, it’s three times more likely that somebody with untreated hearing loss will have a fall. Both impact your ability to do the work.
Someone with untreated hearing loss is at an increased risk, in addition to job challenges, of the following:
- Depression
- Social Isolation
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Dementia
All of this results in decreased productivity. And given the challenges that a person suffering from hearing loss confronts at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an upcoming promotion.
Fortunately, there’s a really bright upside to this dismal career outlook.
A Career Strategy That Works
Studies also reveal that getting hearing loss treated can eliminate the unemployment and the wage gap.
The wage gap can be erased by 90 – 100% for a person with minor hearing loss who uses hearing aids, as revealed by a study carried out by Better Hearing Institute.
Somebody with moderate hearing loss can get rid of about 77% of the gap. That’s nearly the earning level of someone with normal hearing.
In spite of this positive news, many people leave their hearing loss untreated during those working years. They might feel embarrassed about losing their hearing. It makes them feel old.
They may think that hearing aids are just too costly for them. Most likely, they’re not aware that hearing loss gets worse faster if neglected, not to mention the previously discussed health challenges.
These studies are even more significant when these common objections are taken into consideration. Not addressing your hearing loss may be costing you more than you recognize. If you’ve been on the fence about using hearing aids at work, it’s time to have a hearing test. 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