Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among American Workers
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year.” In the United States, 48 million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. This includes 60% of the American workforce.
In the last 25 years, hearing loss has become a major concern in the workplace. For many who work in noisy professions, employers provide some form of hearing protection. It is actually workers in moderately-loud environments that tend to suffer noise-induced hearing loss over the long term. The noises don’t appear loud enough to harm your hearing, so no steps are taken to protect your hearing during the workday. This could eventually lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by long-term exposure to loud sounds. OSHA tell us that sounds at 85 decibels for 8 hours is a safe limit. If sounds in your workplace exceed 85 decibels, then the safe amount of time you spend within that space begins to reduce. For example, at 120 decibels, 15 minutes’ exposure has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss. For reference, 120 decibels is approximately the level of a live rock concert.
To determine whether your workplace does not exceed the 85-decibel limit, you can download an app for your smartphone that measures sound levels. Sound meters can accurately measure the decibels in a given space. Notify your employers if these sounds exceed 85 decibels.
What if You Have a Hearing Loss in the Workplace?
What about people who are already experiencing hearing loss? What are the accommodations for people who experience hearing loss on the job, or are interviewing for a job? What’s required of you when you’re interviewing, and what is required of your employer in terms of accessibility?
If you’re interviewing for a job, you are not required to tell your potential employer about your hearing abilities. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “you aren’t required to disclose any medical procedures, use of hearing aids, or related health conditions as a job applicant.” However, if accommodations are needed during your interview, you may request an assistive listening device or a sign language interpreter if necessary.
If you’ve shared that you have a hearing loss with your potential employer during the interview, then they may ask you a series of questions about your performance on the job. They may ask if you are able to respond quickly to instructions in a noisy, fast-paced environment; if you have good communication skills; and if you are able to legally meet safety standards to perform your job duties.
Regardless of your answers to these questions, you should ask your potential employer whether they provide “reasonable accommodation.” With “reasonable accommodation,” you may answer honestly to the questions above. The American Disabilities Act of 1990 changed the landscape of civil rights for people with hearing loss. Now, most places must provide accessibility accommodations for their patrons. The same goes for employers in the workplace.
“Reasonable accommodation” puts you on equal footing with your colleagues, and eliminates any challenges you may have in the workplace. According to the ADA, this means that you should be able to receive the same information communicated to your colleagues, and that you should be able to fully participate in all work-related events such as meetings and social gatherings. Additionally, you should not be subjected to any sort of harassment on account of your hearing abilities. If harassment is encountered, then you should begin steps to report the case to your human resources department.
How Hearing Aids Help You on the Job
Taking an annual hearing test helps you monitor your hearing abilities. If you have a hearing loss, the most common treatment is the prescription of hearing aids. Among the countless benefits of hearing aids, one major benefit is that they actually support you in your profession.
Studies have found that people who do not treat their hearing loss with hearing aids tend to earn less than their colleagues with normal hearing or colleagues who do treat hearing loss with hearing aids. Hearing loss has the potential to interfere with your ability to communicate, and could affect memory and concentration, as well as your productivity.
Even with accommodations from your employer, it is important to keep in mind that the use of hearing aids goes a long way on the job.
If you have questions regarding hearing loss or want to schedule a hearing consultation, please contact us at Lifestyle Hearing Solutions today. Our experienced hearing professionals are here to help you hear better.
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