Anyone with hearing loss will recall a time when communication became an issue. Perhaps it was a question that was not heard and went unanswered or a key piece of information that was not received. When these moments of miscommunication occur in our homes and close relationships, they can be a nuisance or frustrating. However, when these communication mistakes take place in the workplace, the effects are profound. Inefficiencies at work can be the cause of lost revenue, but these miscommunications can also be serious safety risks to the person with hearing loss as well as other employees. Let’s take a moment to consider some of the ways that hearing loss can lead to negative outcomes in the workplace, as well as steps you can take to make sure you are not contributing to a poor or unsafe work environment.
Miscommunication at Work
When you are on the job, it is essential to be able to communicate. Whether sharing instructions, coordinating your efforts, or describing the nature of the work process, spoken communication is essential to most jobs. Whether you work in a manual labor environment of an industrial site or an office building as part of a professional organization, your ability to communicate is a key part of the value you bring to the enterprise. However, those with hearing loss struggle to hear important elements of conversation, which limits their ability to respond in the work process as well as to reply in turn. These miscommunications can lead to serious flaws in the workflow, sometimes having to do with mistaken work, loss of resources, or even necessitating the work to be done multiple times. Of course, supervisors can become easily frustrated by these lapses in communication, particularly when they have an effect on the bottom line.
Safe Workplaces and Hearing Loss
Although these effects on company revenue can be quite serious, they are nothing compared with the possibility of creating an unsafe workplace. Those who have hearing loss may not be able to respond appropriately to warning signals or instructions from fellow workers, putting themselves in danger. Particularly in manufacturing and heavy industry, the consequences of missed safety information can be dire. Not only do those who have hearing loss put themselves at risk, they can even endanger their coworkers. Communication in the workplace is a closely interconnected web of information exchange, and one person’s missed safety information can easily lead to others missing the signal, as well. With such risks associated with hearing loss, it is crucial to consider how to avoid dangerous situations both for others and ourselves.
Hearing Protection and Treatment
One of the most important things you can do in the workplace to avoid the risks of miscommunication is to protect your hearing in the first place. If you properly wear hearing protection in the form of noise cancelling earmuffs or earplugs, you can ensure that your hearing lasts long into your working life. Safe workplaces make considerations for those who are clearly wearing noise cancelling devices, and protocols require other forms of communication. However, if you wonder if you have already lost some hearing, seeking treatment will be the best remedy for workplace mishaps. The first step you can take is to get a hearing test to determine the nature of your hearing loss, including the ranges of hearing that require assistance. Particularly if you are missing hearing ability in the range of human speech, you will need to seek out assistance to be able to converse freely and clearly on the job. Once you have a hearing test, your hearing health professional can recommend a set of hearing aids or other hearing assistance to meet your needs. With these devices properly employed, most people are able to restore communication ability in the workplace, including the ability to hear important instructions, follow key information, and to abide by safety warnings that are essential to your own wellbeing and others ability to avoid danger. Don’t take a cavalier to workplace safety for yourself and the people working alongside you. Hearing assistance can make sure that you are working efficiently and safely and even preventing you from the censure of your employer!