While hearing loss is common and becoming more accepted among all age groups, there is still a stigma that can surround it, especially in the workforce. Dealing with hearing loss while trying to do your job can be difficult, especially if you do not disclose your hearing loss to coworkers or supervisors. This can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings that could easily be avoided otherwise. 

Luckily, if you experience hearing loss in Omaha, there are a few things you can implement into your work life to make communicating easier. 

Be upfront and honest

You may think that disclosing your hearing loss will make people look at you differently, but in reality, it will just open their eyes and help them understand your condition. Hearing loss cannot mar your track record or performance; your strong work ethic speaks for itself. Letting people know you need accommodations helps eliminate unnecessary stress and wasted time, ensuring you can do your job even more effectively. 

Wearing hearing aids

There is no better way to treat your hearing loss and improve your communication than by wearing your hearing aids. They can, however,  take some time to get used to. Many of the new hearing aids allow you to tweak the prescription your audiologist sets, creating custom programs for YOUR specific environments through the companion app.  It’s almost like having an audiologist in your pocket! If after a couple of  weeks you still find it difficult to hear at your workplace, ask your audiologist for advice. They will be able to troubleshoot any issues you may be having or help you adjust your settings. 

Utilize assistive technology

Depending on your work environment, you may need more than hearing aids to make it through the day with hearing loss in Omaha. There are assistive listening devices you can use in conjunction with your hearing aids to make communicating at work easier. For example, using a caption telephone during a conference call can be useful. This device takes the words that are being said over the phone, transcribes them, and displays them as captions on a screen, allowing you to follow the conversation with ease. 

Another useful tool is Bluetooth connectivity. Hearing aids with this feature allow you to pair your aids with smartphones and help you to hear conversations better with minimal background noise.

Come up with guidelines

You are the one who knows your hearing loss best. Don’t be afraid to set up some guidelines with your coworkers. Tell them the best way to communicate with you is through email or in-person. Remind them that you do best when they face you–this allows you to use facial cues and read lips to better understand them. 

Another guideline you can bring up with your supervisor is your seating arrangement. If you are in an open floor plan and have a hard time concentrating due to the excess noise, ask if there is a secluded office that you can work from, at least part-time. 

Visit us!

If you are experiencing hearing loss in Omaha, come and visit with our rockstar audiologists at Active Hearing Health. They can help you to hear better not just at work, but in all aspects of your life. Contact us today!