Whether in-person or remote, the workday may pose its fair share of challenges for hard-of-hearing employees. The concentration required for communication all day can lead to feelings of discouragement and exhaustion, but with preparation, flexibility, and openness, this can be avoided. Read on for some simple tips on how to thrive in the workplace with hearing loss.
Read up on your rights
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires your employer to make reasonable accommodations to allow people with hearing loss to succeed on the job. It is also against the law for them to discriminate against you based on your level of hearing.
Whether you need assistive technology, changes to your work area, or a sign language interpreter, it is always a good idea to take the first step and ask. Barring exceptional circumstances, your employer is required to provide the accommodations you need. It will help both you and the company in the long run if you have your accessibility needs met.
Be prepared to speak up for yourself
There may be specific accommodations in your workplace that will make your days less stressful and the task of listening easier–don’t be afraid to ask for them.
- Small group discussions are often easier for hard-of-hearing participants if held at a round table so that everyone’s face is in view.
- If your coworkers tend to talk over each other, ask the meeting leader to remind everyone to talk in turn at the start of the meeting.
- Also, if there are certain positions and tasks at your workplace that you are better suited for than others, be open with your employer about your desire to fill a quieter, less hectic role.
Preparation is key
Putting a little extra work in beforehand to make sure you are prepared for the day will go a long way. Getting a written agenda of an upcoming meeting beforehand will mean that you have a much easier time following along, according to University of Arkansas audiologist Samuel Atcherson. And if the meeting minutes are not automatically emailed or handed out to everyone, ask for a copy so you can review what has been said and decided on.
Handle Zoom meetings like a boss
As business has migrated online, people with hearing loss in the workplace have new opportunities and new obstacles. Because you can see the person’s face, video conference calls are more straightforward than audio-only conference calls in some aspects. But they also provide their own set of obstacles, particularly when compared to face-to-face interactions.
In big meetings, when it is difficult to discern who is speaking, mixed sound quality can make discussions challenging to follow. Background noise in the home might be distracting, and internet buffering can induce delays that result in asynchronous lip movements.
Live closed captions can help you understand others more easily. In the fall of 2021, Zoom plans to make live transcription available to all of its users. To assist free account holders who require live transcription before that time, the company will provide live transcription to meeting hosts on demand. Fill out this form to sign up.
Don’t pretend like you understand when you don’t
The effort of listening or having to ask people to repeat themselves at work all day may wear you out, and you may sometimes act as though you have heard and understood something, even if you haven’t. But actually, making an effort to understand your coworkers–though it may be difficult–is vital to your success on the job.
Rather than nodding along when you are lost in a conversation, ask the speaker (politely) to stop and paraphrase what they have just said. If you are talking in a noisy place, ask to relocate the conversation to a quieter area.
Hearing aids are your best tool
Treating hearing loss brings significant benefits – especially in terms of your professional life! Addressing your hearing health can benefit your efficiency and communication in the workplace, with your clients and colleagues alike. On the job, hearing aids are vital in helping you succeed and ensuring the safety of yourself and others. Hearing devices are also smaller and more thoughtfully designed than ever, with the ability to connect to your phone, hone in precisely on speech, reduce background noise, and significantly reduce stress and listening effort.
If you struggle to hear others in the workplace and affect your job performance, visit us at Hearing Wellness Solutions for a hearing exam today. Hearing aids can help you succeed at work, so don’t delay!
