If you have hearing loss, then there are protections in place to ensure that you can have the best experience possible in the workplace. The reality is that there is a high prevalence of hearing loss among working-age adults, which is why employers need to be ready to make any necessary accommodations.
Even with accommodations, individuals with hearing loss face quite a few challenges in the workplace. So, it’s important for legal protections to help these employees have the same opportunities as other people. In this article, we are taking a closer look at how hearing loss can impact a person in the workplace and what types of reasonable accommodations and legal protections can be used.
There are several ways a person can be impacted in the workplace if they are living with hearing loss:
Hearing loss makes it challenging to understand conversations, especially in a noisy environment (such as group discussions, meetings, and large rooms). The person might also have a hard time hearing phone conversations clearly, particularly if it is a conference call or there is an unclear connection over the phone line.
When these communication barriers are coming up, it can result in a situation where the individual with hearing loss is missing out on important instructions or information. If these details are only provided verbally and the person misses the information, then it increases the risk of mistakes or misunderstandings.
When a person has impaired hearing, they might miss warning signals, alarms, or emergency announcements. These missed warnings can pose a risk to themselves and other people in the area as well.
Additionally, if an emergency or high-pressure situation occurs, hearing loss can make it challenging to comprehend verbal instructions and safety protocols. As a result, the person has a harder time following the instructions, which can impact workplace safety.
Communication challenges at work and in any other area of life can take a toll over time because of the social isolation that occurs. It’s hard to feel left out of casual conversations, and people with hearing loss tend to miss some of these social interactions because they have difficulty hearing the interactions with other people.
Eventually, these communication barriers can cause a person to withdraw from social settings. They avoid these group activities, meetings, and networking events because it is too hard to hear and participate.
This social isolation eventually leads to reduced confidence and even self-esteem issues because the person feels misunderstood and isolated from their peers.
Unfortunately, there are situations where people with hearing loss face potential bias or discrimination. During the promotion or hiring process, the hiring team might choose a hearing person over someone with hearing loss. This could be due to the communication challenges. Or, sometimes, it is related to the performance of the person with hearing loss because they are missing verbal communication, which impacts their ability to work as expected.
Depending on the industry or the person’s role, they might experience limitations in their career advancements. Accommodations should be in place to facilitate the ability for a person with hearing loss to participate in their jobs effectively.
Hearing loss can make it hard to keep up when new communication technologies come into the workplace. For example, online collaboration tools or video conferencing might not be conducive for a person who needs assistive devices for hearing.
If training materials are delivered in an audio format, then the person might have difficulty accessing the information. Sometimes, specific equipment or software adaptations need to be in place so they can perform their job duties effectively.
As a person with hearing loss continues to deal with communication challenges in the workplace, it leads to a feeling of frustration, anxiety, and stress. Often, the person starts feeling embarrassed and self-conscious, especially when they are often aksing for clarification or repetition.
Also, there is a higher risk of feeling exhaustion or fatigue when a person is constantly straining to hear and understand. This fatigue can take a toll and affect the person’s performance. Not only does it impact their quality of work life, but it can lead to job dissatisfaction, decreased productivity, and even potential health issues over time.
If you have hearing loss, then make sure that you understand your rights through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including hearing loss.
If an employee meets the ADA’s definition of disability because of their hearing loss, then they are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The goal is to provide adjustments or modifications to the job, work environment, or processes so that the person can perform the essential duties. Everyone has the right to equal employment opportunities.
If you are looking for support in improving your hearing, then contact our team at Fairfax Hearing Center. We offer full-service solutions, including hearing testing, hearing aids, and other technology to help you enjoy your best life!
