When people are at an age where they are still working, their job is often a large part of their self-worth. Their self-image is often based on what job they have, their position, and their pay.
When somebody asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing you think. It’s probably to tell them about your occupation.
It’s not enjoyable to think about what you would do if something took your living away. But if you value your job, then you should be aware of this career-breaker.
The troubling link between career success and untreated hearing loss is precisely that livelihood killer.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
A person with neglected hearing trouble is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. If someone isn’t working full time or has marketable capabilities 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 neglected hearing loss experience lots of challenges. A doctor needs to hear her patients. If they’re going to efficiently work together, construction workers need to be able to communicate. Even a librarian would find it difficult to assist library patrons without her hearing.
Lots of people remain in the same occupation their entire lives. They know it very well. If they can no longer do that job well because of untreated hearing loss, it’s hard to make a living doing something different.
The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Loss
Somebody with hearing loss makes only around 75 cents to every dollar that somebody with normal hearing earns. Numerous independent studies back this wage gap and show that that gap averages out at about $12,000 lost wages every year.
The degree of hearing loss is closely 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 Challenges do Those Who Suffer From Hearing Loss Face on The Job?
A person with untreated hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day due to job stress.
Being unable to hear causes added stress that other workers don’t experience on a moment-to-moment basis. Picture being in a meeting and struggling to hear while everybody else is taking their hearing for granted. Now think about 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 on or off the job. Both impact your ability to do the work.
In addition to on the job concerns, people with neglected hearing loss are at increased danger of:
- Dementia
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Isolation
Reduced productivity is the result of all this. People with 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 an upside.
An Effective Career Solution
The unemployment and wage gap can be mitigated by wearing hearing aids according to some studies.
The wage gap can be erased by 90 – 100% for a person with mild hearing loss who uses hearing aids, as revealed by a study done by Better Hearing Institute.
A person with moderate hearing loss can remove about 77% of the gap. That’s about the earning level of someone who has normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be managed it isn’t 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 simply too expensive for them. Most likely, they don’t know 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 account. Leaving your hearing untreated is probably more expensive than you recognize. It’s time to get a hearing test if you’re trying to decide if you should wear hearing aids at work. Contact 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