During the standard working years, many people 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.
When someone asks “so what do you do?”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind. It probably has something to do with what you do for a living.
It’s not pleasant to think about what you would do if something took your living away. But there’s a career-breaker out there that should make anybody who loves their work pay attention.
That career killer is the troublesome link between neglected hearing loss and career success.
Untreated Hearing Loss Raises Unemployment Rates
A person with neglected hearing problems is over 200% more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. If somebody 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 practically any career, people with untreated hearing loss face lots of difficulties. Doctors need to be capable of hearing 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.
Lots of individuals stay in the same line of work their entire lives. They become quite good at what they do. For them, if they can’t hear well, it would be hard to change to a different job and make a respectable living.
The Potential Hearing Loss Wage Gap
Along with unemployment, those with hearing impairment all tend to suffer a significant wage gap, making around 75 cents for every dollar someone with normal hearing earns. Many independent studies support this wage gap and demonstrate that that gap averages out at about $12,000 lost wages every year.
The degree of hearing loss is strongly linked 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 Are Some on The Job Struggles That Individuals With Hearing Loss Experience?
A person with neglected hearing loss is 5 times more likely to take a sick day as a result of job stress.
From moment to moment, somebody with hearing loss experiences stresses that co-workers never recognize. Imagine being in a meeting and straining to hear while everybody else is taking their hearing for granted. Now think about the anxiety of missing something significant.
That’s even worse.
While on or off the job, it’s three times more likely that somebody with neglected hearing loss will have a fall. Both impact your ability to do the work.
In addition to on the job challenges, individuals with neglected hearing loss are at increased risk of:
- Dementia
- Paranoia
- Social Isolation
- Anxiety
- Depression
Reduced productivity is the result of all this. People with hearing loss experience so many difficulties, both at work and in their personal lives, regrettably being passed over for a promotion is also a very real possibility.
Thankfully, there’s a really bright upside to this dismal career outlook.
An Effective Career Solution
Studies also show that having your hearing loss treated can cancel out the unemployment and the wage gap.
According to a Better Hearing Institute study, somebody with minor hearing loss who wears hearing aids can erase the wage gap by up to 90-100%.
About 77% of that gap can be eliminated for someone with moderate hearing loss. That’s nearly the earning level of somebody who has normal hearing.
In spite of this positive news, many people leave their hearing loss untreated during those working years. They feel that losing their hearing is embarrassing. It makes them feel old.
They may assume that hearing aids are just too expensive for them. Most likely, they don’t know that hearing loss gets worse faster if left untreated, not to mention the previously discussed health concerns.
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. It’s time to get a hearing test if you’re trying to determine if you should wear hearing aids at work. 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