When we think about hearing loss, many of us automatically think about our grandparents, and how difficult it was to communicate with them as they got older and their hearing health deteriorated. However, hearing loss affects people of all ages, and hearing loss in the work place is becoming more and more common. By the age of 60, 1 in 3 Americans will have hearing loss. Are you risking your hearing on the jobsite?
Hearing Loss at Work
For anyone working in a noisy job, such as construction, farming, manufacturing, or law enforcement, hearing loss is a real threat. Being exposed to dangerously loud sounds can lead to noise induced hearing loss, and if you’re not protecting your hearing at work, you could soon find yourself suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus.
Ignoring Hearing Loss
If you’ve noticed that your hearing loss is deteriorating, you might feel the urge to ignore it. You hope it will be temporary, and will fix itself soon. After all, none of your friends seem to have hearing loss, and you don’t want them to see you differently, or start treating you as if you’re old. The truth is, you probably know at least one other person with hearing loss who is also choosing to ignore the fact that they can’t hear clearly. In the workplace, we don’t talk about hearing loss enough, and many employers do the bare minimum when it comes to protecting their staff from hearing loss.
However, if you continue to ignore your hearing loss, it will only get worse, and continue to deteriorate. It will affect your work productivity, make it more difficult for you to hear and follow instructions, and you’ll struggle to focus on tasks. You’ll feel embarrassed when you have to ask someone to repeat themselves, or frustrated at yourself for not being able to hear. You might start to feel a lack of confidence in your ability to do your job, pull away from family and friends, or even struggle with depression.
Signs of Hearing Loss
If you think you might have hearing loss, or have noticed any of these signs among your coworkers, its time for management to address your concerns. Have you noticed a coworker saying “what” often, or asking for something to be repeated? Do you mishear instructions? Has someone been complaining that everyone seems to be mumbling, or aren’t speaking loudly enough? If you’ve been missing the phone ringing, or don’t hear when someone calls your name, or if you get home at the end of the day completely exhausted from straining to hear, you have hearing loss, and need to take steps to treat your hearing loss as soon as possible.
Talking About Hearing Loss
If you’ve noticed that you’re not the only one at work struggling to hear, then challenge yourself to talk about your hearing loss. Normalize hearing loss by sharing your own experiences, and encourage others to open up about their hearing loss. Go to management and address your concerns about the hearing health program, and ask for proper hearing protection and a more visible prevention plan. Your employer is required by law to provide you with hearing protection and education about hearing loss and hearing health.
Treating Hearing Loss
Don’t ignore your hearing loss, but choose to treat your hearing loss and get back to clear hearing. You’ll be placing your job and even your safety on the line if you continue to live with untreated hearing loss. Today’s hearing aids are tiny, sophisticated devices that will give you the ability to hear in any listening environment, follow conversations with ease, hear at work, and accomplish tasks, all while enjoying a great quality of life.
Call us today at My Hearing Centers to book a hearing test and find out more about your hearing health. Our team of hearing health specialists will perform a comprehensive hearing exam, and you’ll be able to see exactly what sounds you can and can’t hear. We’ll help you pick the best hearing device that will help you hear at work, keep up with all the office banter with ease, and allow you to take steps towards that promotion you’ve had your eye on. Visit us today!