Why is my colleague speaking so quietly? I can’t even hear my thoughts in this noise! Many of us fail to realise that our hearing has deteriorated – even if it impacts our work.
According to the Finnish Hearing Association, 11 per cent of the working-age population have some form of hearing impairment. The prevalence grows rapidly after the age of 50: one in six people aged 55, and one in three people over 65, has hearing impairment. As working lives lengthen, more people with hearing difficulties stay in the workforce, including in noisy open-plan offices and dependent on video connections of varying quality.
In the world of work, interaction with other people is often required, making hearing a vital tool whose deterioration also affects social relationships. Lunch and coffee breaks with colleagues may lose their appeal if one has to struggle to follow the conversation.
“Hearing often deteriorates so gradually that people adapt to the change and tend to seek help only when the problem has already become significant. However, timely hearing rehabilitation is essential for people’s ability to cope at work, and it supports their work ability. This remains an under-recognised issue,” says Jaana Hyytiäinen, an audiologist and Project Coordinator for the Hearing Valley project at the University of Eastern Finland.
For instance, the Finnish Hearing Association reports that only one third of those who would benefit from a hearing aid actually have one, and not all of them use it actively.
Workplaces should be more aware of practices that facilitate hearing.
Jaana Hyytiäinen
Audiologist
A hearing test can be performed in occupational health care, at a health centre or in the private sector. If the result indicates a need for further action, the next step is a referral to specialised care within the wellbeing services county, where the need for hearing rehabilitation is assessed following a comprehensive hearing examination. Rehabilitation usually begins with selecting a suitable hearing aid and learning to use it under guidance from an audiologist. A hearing rehabilitation counsellor will also identify any additional needs for aids or support.
When certain criteria are met, a hearing aid may be obtained free of charge from the wellbeing services county.
Workplaces can make hearing easier
Hyytiäinen points out that hearing through a hearing aid differs from “natural hearing” and requires adjustment from both the ears and the brain.
“For instance, at first, many find sharp, high-pitched noises unpleasant, and their own voice seems to echo. When the hearing aid is used regularly and tried out in various everyday listening situations, such as at work, in a café or outdoors, the auditory system gradually adapts to the new sounds that initially felt distracting. Adjustments can later be made to address distracting sounds and improve listening comfort. Ongoing monitoring is needed, as hearing aids must be updated as hearing continues to decline, usually every four to five years, and other rehabilitation needs may also arise.”
Various hearing aid accessories, such as remote microphones that transmit sound directly to the hearing aid, and frequency modulation devices, can make work and daily life easier. Some hearing aids can also be wirelessly connected to a mobile phone or computer.
“In general, workplaces should be more aware of practices that facilitate hearing. For example, people should avoid speaking over one another and keep cameras on during Teams meetings so that it is easier to follow what is being said.”
When interacting with someone with hearing impairment, it’s best to speak clearly and face to face, rather than shouting from the doorway. Conference room layout also matters, and it should be ensured that people don’t speak to one another from opposite ends of a long table. Agendas and visual materials also help make meetings easier to follow.
The work environment also needs to be accessible for people with hearing impairment. This may mean moving to a quieter workspace or improving acoustics and lighting. Work may also be adjusted, for example by alternating between tasks that require more listening and those that are quieter.
“The need for adjustments is assessed individually in collaboration between occupational health care and the employer. A hearing rehabilitation counsellor may also be involved, and in the wellbeing services county of North Savo, such visits to workplaces are becoming more common.”
Using a hearing aid protects the brain
Hyytiäinen has noted a growing interest in taking care of one’s hearing, and the threshold for getting a hearing aid may have lowered.
“The importance of hearing for mental health, active ageing and preventing memory disorders is increasingly discussed in the media. Here, too, timely hearing rehabilitation is essential.”
“Hearing aids today are discreet and effective and constantly evolving. However, it is worth remembering that a hearing aid is of no benefit if not used. The recommendation is to use it throughout waking hours, not only at work or when meeting friends. Protecting the ears from loud noise is also important, even for those with hearing impairment, to prevent further deterioration.”
In the future, optimal hearing aid settings can be verified through self-administered hearing measurements carried out in a sound environment that simulates everyday noise. The TrueHear self-service station being established at the University of Eastern Finland (www.truehear.fi) will improve access to hearing rehabilitation, reduce the need for repeated appointments and support cost-effective hearing care. Meanwhile, the hearing research laboratory built for the Hearing Valley project (www.hearingvalley.fi) strengthens research and university-business collaboration by enabling the development of advanced hearing rehabilitation solutions in realistic sound environments with real patient data. At the same time, patients within the wellbeing services county can benefit from the early adoption of the latest technology.
This story is part of UEF Insight, the University of Eastern Finland’s new online magazine exploring current issues and emerging phenomena. To read all stories, please visit uef.fi/insight.
