Wearing a hearing aid at work
Dec 12, 2012 in Hearing Tests
People of all ages and walks of life come to us for free hearing tests, which means that we have heard a wide range of worries, fears and questions that people have had to raise with us.
One of the questions our expert audiologists get quite a lot is: 'How will my hearing aid affect my professional life?'
It's a big concern for many people worried that they may be put at some sort of disadvantage in the workplace or office environment or even in securing contracts for themselves if they are business owners.
However, with a few tips and tricks, you can easily adjust to wearing your device while also ensuring that you can continue to climb the career ladder.
Communicate
This is perhaps the most important thing to try and do.
Essentially, it's vital that you communicate clearly with your employers, employees and clients that you suffer from hearing loss and explain to them any special allowances you may need from them.
For instance asking them to speak more clearly or requesting a moment to adjust your device.
After a while, it's likely you won't need to do this because you will have adjusted properly but at the start of your recovery it can be crucial to understanding and conversing.
You will find that most people will be more than happy to speak clearer if you are struggling so there's no point in simply trying to muddle through as you may become unstuck and agree to something you didn’t mean to.
Don't lose confidence
Make sure you don't get downhearted if things aren't going as they should straight away.
Give it time and your hearing aid will usually begin to work without any glitches, so don't become shy and retiring just because everything isn't perfect right away.
You'll encounter plenty of challenges in developing your career but, with a little patience and explanation, you can ensure adjusting to a hearing aid isn't one of them.