Hearing loss, because it is invisible, has not commanded the media attention as one of the more obvious disabilities. However, for the approximately 28 million individuals in the United States who have a hearing loss - about one in 10 people - the pervasiveness of the problem affects every aspect of their lives. The fact that so little attention has been given to the impact of hearing loss on people's lives is rather surprising, as it ranks with arthritis, high blood pressure, and heart disease as one of the most common physical conditions. Studies show that hearing loss -- even a moderate hearing loss -- can and often does have a major impact on an individual's employment status, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Despite the mandates and legal protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act, hard of hearing employees still report feeling anxious about telling their boss, supervisor, or co-worker about their hearing loss, fearing dismissal, negative stigmatization, or loss of potential career advancement. This workshop will present an overview of research findings regarding the employment status and personal adjustment of individuals who are hard of hearing. In addition, an overview of projects being conducted jointly by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Persons who are Hard of Hearing or Late Deafened and Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. to improve the employment status and quality of life of individuals who are hard of hearing will be presented.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) describe the employment status of persons who are hard of hearing and note how this is different from the employment status of persons who are hearing or deaf; 2) discuss the manifestations and consequences of untreated hearing loss in the workplace; 3) articulate the reasons why workers who are hard of hearing are reluctant to disclose their hearing loss to supervisors and/or co-workers; and 4) indicate a variety of ways in which hearing loss can be accommodated effectively in the workplace and report who is responsible (i.e., employer or employee) for securing these accommodations
Keywords: Mental Health, Hearing Protection
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Persons who are Hard of Hearing or Late Deafened and Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.