During the normal working years, many individuals build a lot of their perceived self-worth up around their occupation. Their self-image is often based on what job they have, their position, and their pay.
When someone asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind. It probably has something to do with your job.
It’s not pleasant to think about what you would do if something took your career away. But there’s a career-buster out there that should make anyone who loves putting in a good day’s work pay attention.
That livelihood killer is the troublesome link between untreated hearing loss and career success.
Untreated Hearing Loss Raises Unemployment Rates
A person with untreated hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. 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 make use of all of their marketable expertise.
Those who have untreated hearing loss face countless obstacles in almost any line of work. A doctor needs to hear her patients. A construction worker needs to hear his co-workers in order to work together on a job. And without the ability to hear, even a librarian would find it hard to help library patrons.
Many people work their entire lives in one line of work. They know it really well. If they can no longer do that job well because of untreated hearing loss, it’s tough to make a living doing something different.
The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Loss
In addition to unemployment, those with hearing loss all tend to experience a substantial wage gap, making around 75 cents for every dollar somebody with normal hearing earns. Numerous independent studies back this wage gap and demonstrate that that gap averages out at about $12,000 lost wages every year.
The extent of hearing loss is closely correlated with how much they lose. According to a study conducted on 80,000 individuals, even people with moderate hearing loss are potentially losing money.
What Struggles do Those With Hearing Loss Face on The Job?
A person with neglected hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day due to job stress.
Being unable to hear causes additional stress that other workers don’t experience on a moment-to-moment basis. Envision needing to concentrate on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others just 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 serious fall or other accident while at work or at home. Your ability to work is impacted.
On top of on the job issues, individuals with untreated hearing loss are at increased danger of:
- Dementia
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Isolation
All of this results in decreased productivity. People who have hearing loss experience so many obstacles, both at work and in their personal lives, unfortunately being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.
Fortunately, this sad career prospect has a silver lining.
An Effective Career Strategy
Studies also show that getting hearing loss treated can cancel out 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 remove about 77% of the gap. That’s about the earning level of someone with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be corrected it isn’t uncommon for people to disregard it during their working years. They may feel self-conscious about losing their hearing. They don’t want to appear “older” because of their hearing loss.
They may assume that hearing aids are just too costly for them. Most likely, they don’t know that hearing loss gets worse faster if neglected, not to mention the previously mentioned health challenges.
These studies are even more significant when these common objections are taken into consideration. Leaving your hearing unaddressed is likely more expensive than you realize. If you’ve been undecided about wearing hearing aids at work, it’s time to have a hearing assessment. Get in touch with us so we can help you make that decision.
References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx