Surprise - This Can Derail Your Career

Woman confused at work because she has untreated hearing loss.

During the standard working years, many individuals build a lot of their perceived self-worth up around their job. They base their self-image on what type of job they do, what position they have, and how much they make.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone asks, “So what do you do”? It most likely has something to do with what you do for a living.

It’s not pleasant to think about what would happen if something took your career away. But there’s a career-breaker out there that should make anyone who loves their work perk up and listen.

That livelihood killer is the troublesome link between untreated hearing loss and job success.

Untreated Hearing Loss Raises Unemployment Rates

A person is over 200% more likely to be underemployed or unemployed if they have neglected hearing loss. Underemployment is typically defined as the condition of employees not earning up to their potential, either because they aren’t working full time or because the work doesn’t use all of their marketable expertise.

In nearly any career, individuals with neglected hearing loss experience lots of challenges. Doctors need to be able to hear their patients. If they’re going to safely work together, construction workers need to be able to communicate. Even a librarian would find it hard to assist library patrons without her hearing.

Many individuals work their entire lives in one line of work. They know it very well. For them, if they can’t hear well, it would be hard to change to a different career and make a decent living.

The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Impairment

Somebody with hearing loss earns only around 75 cents to every dollar that somebody with normal hearing earns. Numerous independent studies support this wage gap and demonstrate that that gap averages out at around $12,000 lost wages every year.

The extent of hearing loss is directly associated with how much they lose. Even individuals with moderate hearing loss are potentially losing money, according to a study of 80,000 people.

What Struggles do Those Who Suffer From Hearing Loss Deal With on The Job?

Job stress causes somebody with hearing loss to take sick days 5 times more frequently than somebody with functional hearing.

Being incapable of hearing causes added stress that peers don’t experience on a moment-to-moment basis. Imagine needing to focus on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others just take hearing for granted. Now think about the stress of missing something important.

That’s even more stressful.

While at work or at home, it’s three times more likely that someone with untreated hearing loss will suffer from a fall. Your ability to work is impacted.

Someone with neglected hearing loss is at an increased risk, in addition to job challenges, of the following:

Social Isolation
Dementia
Paranoia
Anxiety
Depression

All of this adds up to reduced productivity. People with hearing loss experience so many challenges, both at work and in their personal lives, unfortunately being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.

Luckily, this sad career prospect has an upside.

A Career Approach That Works

Studies also reveal that getting hearing loss treated can eliminate the unemployment and the wage gap.

The wage gap can be decreased by 90 – 100% for somebody with mild hearing loss who uses hearing aids, as revealed by a study carried out by Better Hearing Institute.

A person with moderate hearing loss can eliminate about 77% of the gap. That’s about the earning level of someone with normal hearing.

Even though hearing loss can be managed it’s not uncommon for people to disregard it during their working years. They think that losing their hearing is embarrassing. It makes them feel old.

Hearing aids may seem too costly. They most likely don’t realize that if hearing loss is left untreated, it worsens more quickly in addition to triggering the other health problems mentioned above.

In light of these common objections, these studies hold additional significance. Not treating your hearing loss might be costing you more than you recognize. It’s time to have a hearing exam if you’re trying to decide if you should wear hearing aids at work. Call us and we can help you figure out whether hearing aids would help.