Disclosing hearing loss at work
At the beginning of 2023 we launched our new report, which shared insight from employers and recommendations from us about how employers can become more inclusive for staff members who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
In our first of a series of deep dives on the report, we break down each of our four recommendations with Claire Lavery, Associate Director of Employment. First up, we look into disclosing your hearing loss at work.
Coping mechanisms
1 in 8 adults of working age have some form of hearing loss, whether they know it or not. A gradual decline in your hearing can be hard to detect, as you are not aware of the sounds you are missing. This gradual change leads to people creating a range of coping mechanisms to manage communication every day, including at work.
What’s the reason for not disclosing?
Over half of people with hearing loss do not disclose it to their employer, their manager or their colleagues. This is often because:
What do employers say?
Employers have told us that disability disclosure rates in their organisations are lower than the prevalence figures suggest they should be, and that hearing loss usually does not feature at all.
So what do employers need to do?
Organisations need to normalise discussion about hearing loss, in recognition of how common a condition it is in society. Prevalence rates are set to grow as our population, and our workforce ages – numbers are predicted to reach 14.2million adults in the UK by 2035.
Read the full article and download our report on our website.
Retired at St. Christopher's School Bahrain
1yRNID became AOHL and then reverted to RNID. Not sure why this happened?
Retired at St. Christopher's School Bahrain
1yI managed to have career in teaching in mainstream schools in UK and British schools abroad (Germany and Bahrain) with my profound hearing loss backed up with powerful hearing aids, one body worn at first and then 2 BTE models updated as necessary. Lipreading was a necessary skill. Being a pianist helped as pianists were needed in schools and elsewhere. Most colleagues were supportive but there are always a very few bad apples who try and run down people with perceived disabilities. Hearing aids improved and got smaller without loss of power over the decades. Courses in acting also helped.
Hearing Therapist, creative and innovative educator
1yGreat to read this report @RNID. I have worked with so many people who struggled to find a way to explain their communication needs at work. Often the assumption is that once you have access to technology or devices the issue is solved. #audiology #personcentred
Senior Manager, PwC
1yWe work hard in #pwc to normalise discussions on hearing loss or any other disability. I encourage everyone with hearing loss to be open about their disability because people cannot help you if you are not! Furthermore, people will know if you have a hearing loss so if you are not open about it then people may feel awkward or embarrassed making the situation tricky to navigate.
Configuration Management
1yAt interviews and when I have sorted at any new role I always make a point to say I am deaf and wear processors. Once I have disclosed this it is then incumbent on everybody else to make sure they communicate with me in a way that works. If you don’t tell anybody then how are they to know 🤷🏼♂️.