Hearing loss can cause complications and frustration in the workplace. A common difficulty that people with hearing loss have is holding conversations with coworkers. Often, working requires additional energy since it can be a struggle to communicate effectively with coworkers.
Coworkers of employees with hearing loss may misinterpret the person’s inability to hear. The hearing loss can cause frustration on the part of the coworkers may have to repeat themselves in order to be heard.
The employee with hearing loss may feel self-conscious or try to keep the hearing loss secret. This can be detrimental as it does not let the employees know the needs of the person with hearing loss. Someone who is hiding a hearing loss can appear disinterested or as if they are ignoring others when they actually cannot hear them.
People with hearing loss who struggle with employment may wonder is conductive hearing loss a disability? Since conductive hearing loss is usually considered a temporary condition or one that it can be improved with hearing aids, it is not often considered a disability.
The standard for a hearing loss disability set by the Social Security Administration is an impairment of ninety decibels for air convection. For the sake of determining if the impairment is a disability, the hearing impairment measurement of the better ear is compared to the Social Security Administration’s standard.
Many people with hearing loss are productive employees. Employers are encouraged to make accommodations that will make it easier for the employee with a hearing loss. In many cases, an employee with hearing loss who feels that their needs are understood will have a better attitude towards their employment which often increases the person’s productivity.
Since conductive hearing loss is often temporary, a person with significant conductive hearing loss that is expected to last for an extended period of time may have difficulty receiving disability benefits from the government. However, if the conductive hearing loss is at least as severe as the measurement for a hearing loss disability and the hearing loss is expected to last at least one year, the person may be eligible to receive disability benefits.
A person with conductive hearing loss can have difficulty in relationships as well as in their employment. Frustration and depression are common for the spouse of a person with hearing loss. Often, the spouse without a hearing loss feels ignored.