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 hold, and how much they make.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when somebody asks, “So what do you do”? It probably has something to do with what you do for a living.
It’s not pleasant to consider what you would do if something took your career away. But there’s a career-buster out there that should make anybody who loves putting in a good day’s work perk up and listen.
The troubling connection between career success and neglected hearing loss is precisely that livelihood killer.
Unemployment Rate is Higher With Untreated Hearing Loss
A person with neglected hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. If a person isn’t working full time or has marketable capabilities that their not making use of and their not earning as much money as they should be, that’s defined as underemployed.
In nearly any occupation, people with neglected hearing loss experience lots of difficulties. A doctor needs to hear her patients. If they’re going to efficiently work together, construction workers have to be able to communicate. Even a librarian would find it difficult to help library patrons without her hearing.
Lots of individuals stay in the same occupation their entire lives. They become very good at what they do. If they can no longer do that job well because of neglected hearing loss, it’s tough to make a living doing something else.
The Wage Gap Caused by Hearing Loss
Someone with hearing loss earns only about 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 about $12,000 lost wages every year.
The severity of hearing loss is directly linked with how much they lose. Even individuals with mild hearing loss are potentially losing money, based on a study of 80,000 people.
What Struggles do Individuals 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 incapable of hearing causes additional stress that peers don’t endure on a moment-to-moment basis. Envision needing to focus on hearing and understanding in team meetings while others just take hearing for granted. And missing an essential piece of information is always a worry.
That’s even more stressful.
Those with untreated hearing loss are also 3 times as likely to have a serious fall or other accident while at work or at home. Both impact your ability to do the work.
Somebody with neglected hearing loss is at an increased danger, in addition to job concerns, of the following:
- Depression
- Dementia
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Social Isolation
Decreased productivity is the consequence of all this. And given the obstacles that a person with hearing loss experiences at work and in life, they may also not be considered for an upcoming promotion.
Fortunately, this sad career outlook has an upside.
An Effective Career Solution
Studies also reveal that getting hearing loss treated can cancel out the unemployment and the wage gap.
The wage gap can be decreased by 90 – 100% for someone with minor hearing loss who uses hearing aids, as reported 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 income of a person in the same field with normal hearing.
Even though hearing loss can be corrected it’s not uncommon for people to neglect it during their working years. They feel that losing their hearing is embarrassing. It makes them feel old.
Hearing aids may seem too costly. They probably don’t recognize that if hearing loss is neglected, it advances more quickly in addition to causing the other health problems discussed above.
These studies are even more compelling when these common objections are taken into account. Not treating your hearing loss might be costing you more than you think. It’s time to have 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.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/fulltext/2013/02001/Hearing_Loss_Linked_to_Unemployment,_Lower_Income.2.aspx