When people are at an age where they are still working, their job is often a big part of their self-worth. They base their self-image on what kind of job they have, what position they have, and how much they make.
When someone asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind. It most likely has something to do with your job.
It’s not pleasant to consider what would happen if something took your career away. But if you value your job, then you should be aware of this career-buster.
The troubling link between career success and neglected hearing loss is precisely that livelihood killer.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
Someone with untreated hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. Underemployment is commonly 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 utilize all of their marketable capabilities.
In almost any career, individuals with neglected hearing loss face lots of challenges. A doctor needs to hear her patients. If they’re going to safely 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 people work their entire lives in one line of work. They become quite good at what they do. If they can no longer perform that job well due to untreated hearing loss, it’s tough to make a living doing something different.
The Potential Hearing Loss Wage Gap
Along with unemployment, those with hearing loss all have the tendency to experience a significant wage gap, making about 75 cents for every dollar someone with normal hearing makes. This wage gap is backed by many independent studies that reveal that an individual loses up to $12,000 in wages every year.
How much they lose directly correlates with the severity of the hearing loss. According to a study conducted on 80,000 individuals, even people with slight hearing loss are potentially losing money.
What Are Some on The Job Struggles That Individuals With Hearing Loss Experience?
Someone with neglected hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day caused by job stress.
Being unable to hear causes additional stress that peers don’t endure on a moment-to-moment basis. Imagine having to concentrate on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others simply take hearing for granted. Now imagine the anxiety of missing something important.
That’s even more stressful.
Those with neglected hearing loss are also 3 times as likely to have a significant fall or other accident while at work or at home. Your ability to work is impacted.
Someone with untreated hearing loss is at an increased danger, in addition to job challenges, of the following:
- Social Isolation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
- Paranoia
All of this results in reduced productivity. And given the challenges that someone with hearing loss confronts at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an upcoming promotion.
Thankfully, there’s a really bright upside to this dismal career outlook.
A Career Strategy That Works
Studies also show that having your hearing loss treated can eliminate the unemployment and the wage gap.
The wage gap can be erased by 90 – 100% for somebody with minor hearing loss who wears hearing aids, as revealed by a study conducted by Better Hearing Institute.
About 77% of that gap can be mitigated for a person with moderate hearing loss. That gets them nearly up to the earning of an individual in the same job with normal hearing.
Despite this positive news, many individuals fail to treat their hearing loss during those working years. They feel that losing their hearing is embarrassing. They don’t want to appear “older” because of their hearing loss.
Hearing aids may seem too expensive. Most likely, they don’t know that hearing loss gets worse faster if left untreated, not to mention the previously mentioned health concerns.
These studies are even more significant when these common objections are taken into account. Leaving your hearing unaddressed is probably more costly than you know. If you’ve been on the fence about wearing hearing aids at work, it’s time to get a hearing assessment. Call us and we can help you decide whether hearing aids would help.
References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx