Hearing loss is not rare
Hearing loss is more common than you may think. A total of about 48 million Americans have hearing loss. More specifically, about 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64. Of the adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from wearing hearing aids, fewer than one in three have used them.
Signs and symptoms
Though hearing loss must be diagnosed by a trained professional, certain signs and symptoms of hearing loss should be taken seriously. These can include:
- Muffling of speech and other sounds
- Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
- Trouble hearing certain consonants
- Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
- Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
- Withdrawal from conversations
- Avoidance of some social settings
Left untreated, these symptoms of hearing loss can have negative repercussions at work: Not hearing the message of a meeting, not understanding and being able to process directives and having to slow down conversations can hurt your job performance.
Hearing aids improve job performance
Numerous studies have shown that untreated hearing loss at work can negatively impact your job performance and salary. Fortunately, wearing hearing aids can help you remain productive and keep your career on track. It also means higher income and better relationships with your colleagues.













