Should I talk to people at work about my hearing loss?
Photo credit Yan Krukau, Pexels Woman sitting at desk with laptop, looking deep in thought.
I can understand not wanting to tell people about your hearing loss.
Some peoples reactions can be strange.
There are the people who blurt out ‘you don’t look/sound deaf’ or ‘you’re so inspiring’ or those who say nothing, just lean back slightly and scan the room for a different conversation.
There are some who, instead of asking how they can support you, ask lots of questions they don’t understand the answer to:-
“why are you deaf??”
“I have conductive hearing loss caused by cholesteatoma”
“Huh??”
They may assume they know what’s best for you or have ideas to improve things. I have both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss and I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve suggested inhaling steam will fix it.
Sometimes people can make assumptions about your abilities or intelligence and no one wants to be seen differently or treated differently.
So if your hearing aids can’t be seen it’s tempting to not draw attention to them.
However, you are entitled to support at work. It levels the playing field so that you have the same opportunities as everyone else, and if you don’t get that then you won’t reach your full potential.
By not advocating for yourself or telling people how they can support you, you could be creating more work and stress for yourself.
Whether or not you consider yourself disabled, people with hearing loss are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that your employer has to make reasonable adjustments to allow you to do your job. It also means that you cannot be paid less, passed over for promotion or be treated differently than your coworkers because of your hearing loss.
Ways to manage hearing loss at work.
Work out what you need. This will be different depending on your level of hearing loss, as well as if you have some of the other things that sometimes come with it, such as tinnitus or vertigo. Here is a short list of ideas, but it would depend on your workplace, so you can probably come up with more of your own.
A desk where you can see the room and see if someone is talking to you.
A desk close to the door so you don’t have to walk too far for the kitchen/toilet if you have vertigo.
A quiet space for 1-1 conversations.
People to face you when speaking (If a co worker is uncomfortable with eye contact they can look over your shoulder, you just need to see their face)
Follow up corridor meetings with an email to clarify new instructions
Minutes from meetings
A chair in meetings who stops everyone from talking at once and stays on topic
Perhaps speak to HR about sending your colleagues on a deaf awareness course.
Technology to manage hearing loss at work
Technology is moving forwards all the time, here are a few ideas for things that could help.
An amplified telephone or one with a T-loop
A hearing loop for your desk if people come to you with enquiries or a mobile hearing loop for meetings or use in different rooms.
Microphones for meetings such as a cochlear mini mic or roger pen
Sound streamer for your PC or laptop
Captions on video calls
Some mobile phones can create captions for conversations and phone calls, although the accuracy can vary.
Being your own advocate
Advocating for yourself isn’t easy. It takes courage and self-acceptance. If your hearing loss is recent, you may need some time to process things. Talking about your difficulties can be stressful and upsetting so take some steps to prepare for conversations around your hearing.
Talk to a friend outside of work to bounce ideas around and plan what to say.
Know your rights. Look up info around employment law, Citizens Advice is a great place to start.
Arrange a chat with your boss or HR and find out what they can offer. The Access to Work scheme pays part of the cost for employers to make adjustments for you. This will involve a workplace assessment and they may have ideas about which equipment may be beneficial.
You need to know what will help you, and sometimes this means trying out different things that don’t work and not giving up until you find something that does.
Find a network
It’s ok to be choosy about who you talk to. You don’t have to share every detail about your hearing and difficulties with everyone who asks.
However it is good to chat to others who understand what you’re going through. You can share ideas about support or deflecting daft questions.
Find a network that supports you. Look up facebook pages or groups on Linked In, or you may find a group local to you that you can visit in person.
Take care of your wellbeing
Self care isn’t about hiding away under a duvet. It’s about taking action that supports you and makes your life better.
Sometimes that action will put you outside your comfort zone. But the more action you take, the easier it becomes. If you want some support, you can book a call with me here.
Any change for the better starts with a small step.
What will you do first?