In March of this year the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) completed an extensive study on 44,000 households, which demonstrated that untreated hearing loss has a significant impact on earnings, as much as $23,000 per year on average, depending on severity of hearing loss. Use of hearing devices was shown to mitigate the effects of income loss on average by 50%. Additionally, getting a hearing instrument at a younger age may also help reduce the chance of losing income.
Many think of hearing loss as something that happens mainly to older people, but research has shown that two out of three people with hearing loss are below retirement age. Most people with this problem are in the prime of life, including one out of six baby boomers (ages 41-59) and one out of 14 “Gen Xers” (ages 29-40).
Since only one out of four Americans with hearing problems are getting treatment, it is important that we teach the general public about the consequences of untreated hearing loss on job performance. Even people with mild hearing loss, who may miss a consonant here or a word there, may lose income if they can’t completely grasp the latest news at the water cooler or a phone message from the boss.
Many people are embarrassed to admit they have hearing problems and might need hearing instruments, experts say. Some incorrectly think a hearing device will make them seem odd or less able to do the job than their co-workers. The truth is the modern devices, such as those featured at PurTone Hearing Centers, are not visible to the untrained eye.
“If you seem out of touch because you can’t hear very well, you will be much more noticeable than you would be with a modern hearing device in your ear,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, the BHI’s executive director. In the workplace, he points out, good communication skills are essential, particularly when it comes to understanding what customers and co-workers want.
Other research shows that untreated hearing problems disrupt family life, hamper emotional intimacy and increase the chances of psychological problems.
To learn more about ways to prevent or treat hearing loss, call 1-888-614-HEAR, visit www.ArizonaHears.com or drop by a PurTone Hearing Center near you. The Better Hearing Institute can be visited at www.betterhearing.org.