How Untreated Hearing Loss Impacts the Workplace

Recently, the non-profit Better Hearing Institute (BHI) took a close look at the impact untreated hearing loss has on the workplace — and its workforce. What they discovered was fascinating, showing that untreated hearing loss not only cost companies money (in terms of lost productivity, accidents and more), but also affected workers’ earnings, and even employment rates.

They found:
• The majority of people with hearing loss are still in the workforce
• People with untreated hearing loss can lose up to $30,000 income annually, depending on their degree of loss
• The aggregate yearly loss in income due to underemployment for people with untreated hearing loss is an estimated $176 billion
• Fiscal cost to society in unrealized federal taxes is an estimated $26 billion       
Luckily hearing loss is largely manageable if addressed properly. The BHI study found that the use of hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss dramatically—by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate loss. The study also found that people with severe hearing loss who use hearing aids are nearly twice as likely to be employed as their peers who don’t.

If you think hearing loss may be affecting yours or a loved one’s ability at work, get help today. At Hearing Plus LLC, we offer demonstrations of Starkey’s new wireless hearing aids and can help you find the hearing aid that’s right for you.  We also have multiple options for hearing protection to help protect you from a hearing loss.  Whether you want the protection for recreational hunting, industrial work, or even for a musical concert event, Hearing Plus LLC has many options for you to consider.