How Hearing Loss Affects You at Work

When it comes to your career, hearing loss affects more than just conversations. It influences communication, safety, income, and job satisfaction. Whether you’re in a bustling office, a quiet clinic, or a noisy job site, untreated hearing loss can make daily tasks frustrating and even risky.

Understand how hearing loss impacts professional life and how you can overcome these challenges through tools, accommodations, legal protections, and proactive communication.

The Economic Toll: Income and Opportunity Loss

Untreated hearing loss affects your wallet as well as your well-being.

  • Adults with hearing loss are more likely to experience underemployment and lower education levels.
  • According to the Better Hearing Institute, untreated hearing loss can reduce annual income by up to $30,000.
  • Income disparities between those with hearing loss and those with typical hearing can exceed 25%.

The economic impact doesn’t stop with individuals. It costs society an estimated $176 billion annually in lost earnings and $26 billion in unrealized federal taxes.

People with hearing loss also face challenges in transitioning between jobs, developing careers, and achieving promotions. Lack of accommodations, poor communication, and stigma make professional growth harder.

A golden beige Phonak hearing aid sits on a white background.

Hearing Aids Make a Difference

Hearing aids can reduce income loss risk by 90-100% for mild loss and 65-77% for moderate to severe hearing loss. Those who wear hearing aids are more likely to remain employed and report greater job satisfaction. Still, millions who could benefit from hearing aids go without them.

Learn about using hearing aids for mild hearing loss. 

People crowd around a laptop in an office.

Communication Barriers in the Workplace

Hearing loss makes even routine communication more difficult. Employees with hearing loss frequently report challenges such as:

  • Difficulty hearing in group meetings or conference calls
  • Missing key points during phone conversations
  • Misunderstanding verbal instructions from supervisors or clients
  • Feeling excluded from informal conversations

Noise, distance, accents, and unclear speech make comprehension harder. Background noise is often the greatest obstacle. Open floor plans, loud machines, overlapping conversations, or ambient music increase the difficulty.

Many workers with hearing loss also experience social isolation, stress, and anxiety. When these communication issues go unaddressed, performance may suffer and opportunities for advancement may decrease. This can lead to a decline in self-esteem and confidence.

Disclosing Your Hearing Loss at Work

Telling your coworkers or manager about your hearing loss can be intimidating, but disclosure often leads to better understanding and support. In a study from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, researchers found three common disclosure styles:

  • Direct disclosure: “I have hearing loss in my right ear.”
  • Situational disclosure: “I can’t hear well with all this background noise.”
  • Non-disclosure: Asking for repetition without revealing your hearing status.

Experts recommend a multi-disclosure approach. This means explaining your condition and offering suggestions to improve communication. For example: “I wear hearing aids and have trouble hearing in noisy places. Please face me when you speak.”

This strategy fosters inclusion, prevents misunderstandings, and builds trust.

Legal Protections Under the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers powerful protections for workers with hearing loss.

You qualify for protection if your hearing loss substantially limits one or more major life activities, like communicating or hearing. Even if you use hearing aids or cochlear implants, you are still covered.

The Three Prongs of Disability Under the ADA:

  1. Actual Disability: You are substantially limited in hearing.
  2. Record of Disability: You have a documented history of hearing loss.
  3. Regarded as Disabled: Your employer perceives you as having a hearing impairment.

Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so causes undue hardship. If they fail to accommodate, you have the right to file a complaint with the EEOC.

Requesting Reasonable Accommodations

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The accommodations you need depend on your job and your specific challenges.

Common accommodations include:

  • Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs): FM systems, streamers, or amplified phones
  • Captioned telephones: Including IP CTS and devices with visual alerts
  • Work area adjustments: Moving to quieter workspaces to reduce background noise
  • Meeting tools: Requesting agendas in advance, CART services, or follow-up transcripts
  • Written communication: Email summaries, memos, or instructions instead of verbal-only delivery
  • Emergency alerts: Flashing lights, vibrating pagers, or visual alarm systems
  • Training materials: Requesting captions or transcripts during staff training

Employers may be eligible for tax credits when they provide these accommodations.

Also remember to document all requests and responses. Email your accommodation request to HR and keep a copy.

Two people talk during Happy Hour.

Best Practices for Self-Advocacy at Work

Managing hearing loss in the workplace involves preparation and communication.

  • Speak Up: Clearly communicate what you need to do your job effectively.
  • Educate Others: Many people are unaware of the challenges hearing loss creates. Provide helpful tips.
  • Stay Informed: Know your rights under the ADA.
  • Stay Equipped: Carry spare hearing aid batteries or chargers.
  • Use Visuals: Choose written communication over phone calls when possible.
  • Request CART: Real-time captioning helps in meetings and webinars.

Prepare for group settings by arriving early and choosing a seat with a clear view. Ask people to identify themselves before speaking during calls.

Building an Inclusive Workplace

Workplaces thrive when communication is open and inclusive.

Tips for Coworkers:

  • Get the person’s attention before speaking
  • Speak clearly at a normal pace
  • Don’t cover your mouth while talking
  • Avoid shouting or over-enunciating
  • Use rephrasing instead of repeating

For Managers:

  • Provide deaf awareness training
  • Encourage team members to share communication preferences
  • Make accessibility part of your office culture

When in doubt, ask. Most people with hearing loss are happy to explain how to communicate better.

Meeting and Conference Strategies

Meetings can be particularly difficult. Here are some best practices:

  • Provide agendas and notes before and after the meeting
  • Use CART or speech-to-text apps
  • Make sure speakers face the group
  • Ask attendees to speak one at a time
  • Provide captioned videos and visuals

For hybrid or remote meetings, ensure all attendees use high-quality mics and identify themselves when speaking.

Safety Protocols for Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects how you respond in emergencies. If you can’t hear fire alarms or safety announcements, your risk increases.

Important safety adaptations include:

  • Flashing strobe lights on fire alarms
  • Vibrating pagers for urgent alerts
  • Visual emergency signage
  • Written evacuation plans
  • A designated buddy or triplet system

All employees should be trained to understand these tools and protocols.

Office Layout and Technology Enhancements

Your office setup can support or hinder communication.

  • Good Lighting: Helps with lip-reading
  • Low Noise: Choose quieter areas when possible
  • Face Visibility: Avoid backlighting during face-to-face conversations
  • No Glass Barriers: Sound is distorted through partitions

Helpful Devices Include:

  • Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids
  • Captioning apps like Ava or Otter.ai
  • Hearing aid-compatible phones
  • Speech-to-text phones
  • Noise-reducing headsets
  • Portable microphones

Emotional Impact and Workplace Culture

The emotional toll of workplace hearing loss is real. Many workers report:

  • Fear of being perceived as incompetent
  • Anxiety over phone calls or group settings
  • Depression or isolation from coworkers

Organizations can help by fostering a respectful, inclusive atmosphere where asking for accommodations is normalized and supported.

Special Considerations for Remote Work

Remote work creates unique hearing challenges:

  • Poor audio quality on calls
  • Lack of visual cues
  • Multiple speakers talking at once

Strategies to improve remote communication include:

  • Using captioning apps or browser plugins
  • Asking speakers to use headsets and mute when not speaking
  • Requesting summaries or transcripts after meetings
  • Preferring chat over verbal updates

Explore FAQs about hearing loss. 

Understanding Your Rights and Employer Responsibilities

The ADA requires employers to:

  • Provide reasonable accommodations
  • Avoid discrimination based on hearing status
  • Ensure all employment practices are accessible

Employers are not required to make changes that cause undue hardship, but they must engage in a good-faith interactive process to explore solutions.

For more information on your rights, visit the EEOC’s official guidance.

When to Seek Help

You don’t need to struggle through work in silence. If you notice signs like these, it’s time to act:

  • You frequently ask coworkers to repeat themselves
  • You avoid meetings or calls
  • You miss key instructions
  • You feel anxious about communicating

A professional hearing evaluation is the first step. Hearing aids and workplace tools can help you feel confident and capable again.

You Deserve to Be Heard

Hearing loss affects many aspects of your work life, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. From legal protections to assistive technology, you have options.

If you’re struggling to hear at work, it may be time to get your hearing checked.

Stanford Hearing is here to help.

Our licensed hearing care providers in Sioux Falls can help you hear better, work smarter, and feel more confident every day.

Contact Stanford Hearing  to book an appointment and reclaim your focus at work.