Sometimes, the outcomes of a decision are clearly visible. Driving with a flat tire, for instance, results in tire wear and potential costs for realignment or a new axle. Neglecting routine oil changes can result in engine failure.
However, other costs are more nuanced, with their implications not always immediately apparent. However, this lack of visibility doesn’t negate their existence. Failing to eat vegetables, for instance, may not have immediate consequences, but your health will eventually decline.
Work-related hearing loss comes under this last category. Actual costs and implications might not be immediately apparent, frequently emerging only after the fact. Nevertheless, they undeniably exist. What is the true cost of hearing loss at work? Let’s dig into it.
How prevalent is hearing loss in the workplace?
According to researchers, around 15.5% of individuals in the US have trouble hearing. In addition, another 8% of individuals experience tinnitus, which is a ringing sound in the ears. Four percent of them have tinnitus that’s so bad that they can’t hear.
Government agencies approximate that 24% of this is due to exposure on the job. Although governments have executed strategies to reduce occupational health dangers, a staggering 22 million people are still subjected to detrimental noise levels every year.
An additional 10 million individuals are at risk of being subjected to dangerous compounds in the workplace that could exacerbate their hearing loss. Some substances like cleaning products, metals with high density, and a poisonous gas known as carbon monoxide are among the items listed. For people in certain professions, exposure to such substances is simply a routine aspect of their everyday tasks.
What are the costs of hearing loss?
The economic and personal ramifications of hearing loss may not be immediately obvious, but grasping these repercussions is crucial for making informed choices that prioritize your total health and quality of life.
Costs in the workplace
The Better Hearing Institute found that individuals with untreated hearing loss make an average of $12,000 less each year in comparison to people with normal hearing. This could be attributed to the following. Research shows that with hearing loss, you’re at increased risk of:
- Injury which can result in temporary disability
- Difficulties with professional productivity
- Trouble hearing/understanding instructions
- Getting involved in disagreements because of something you think someone said or didn’t say
- Advancement opportunities are passing you by
- Calling out of work regularly
- Social solitude (cost fluctuates, but it can substantially increase general health decline rate)
- Mental Health Issues ($200-$500/month + missed workdays)
- Dementia: The financial burden can be staggering
- Fall danger increase ($15,000+)
- increasing likelihood of workplace injuries (fluctuates)
- Higher likelihood of costly hospital Emergency Room admissions (exceeds $2,000)
- Follow all safety standards mandated by your employer, including using earplugs, masks, or other protective gear on the job. Several of these suggestions follow OSHA guidelines that are intended to protect your well-being.
- Begin open and polite conversations with your colleagues about work conditions that might lead to hearing issues. Substitute aggressive language with open and transparent dialogue when interacting with management.
- To evaluate the noise levels in your surroundings, consider utilizing a sound meter app on your mobile device, taking care to carry out the tests only when it is safe to do so. Follow the recommended suggestions of 85 dB for a maximum of 8 hours, 90 decibels for no more than 2 hours, 95 decibels for no more than 50 minutes, 100 decibels for a maximum of 15 minutes, and sound levels of 110 and higher can cause immediate harm.
- Get a hearing test annually to keep track of changes over time. If you notice your hearing waning, you should think about finding a job where you are less at risk.