About 48 million people have hearing loss. And around 22 million employees are exposed to harmful noise levels at work, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America.
Despite the prevalence of hearing loss, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association reports that only 11% of those affected have sought treatment.
A lack of hearing benefits may explain the discrepancy. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), financial barriers are the top reason individuals avoid hearing-related treatment. More than 90% of employees receive health benefits through their employer, but fewer than 30% have hearing benefits, reports Employee Benefit News (EBN).
Hearing benefits could fill a void
Employees are largely relying on employer benefits for hearing-related treatment. More than half of employees who received hearing aids said they would have waited longer to address the issue if their employer hadn’t offered hearing benefits.
Even employees who don’t need hearing aids cite the importance of screenings, exams and related benefits. In a survey cited by SHRM, nearly 95% of employees said hearing benefits are at least somewhat important. More than 50% said they are important or very important.
Hearing loss isn’t just impacting employees in noisy environments such as construction and manufacturing. Because of the changing nature of work and home life, many office employees are experiencing auditory fatigue. Auditory fatigue describes ear discomfort or desensitization due to persistent noise exposure.
Employees often wear headphones to answer phone calls, conduct online meetings, block office noise or listen to background music. Many then go home and wear earbuds to stream shows, listen to music and play online games.
This increased auditory engagement at work and at home is likely the reason employees are complaining of listening fatigue. In a survey by the hearing benefits platform Tuned, 74% of employees said they have experienced listening fatigue. And more than 60% said they needed to take breaks at work because of auditory fatigue.
Types of hearing benefits
Though hearing benefits aren’t widespread, they are essential. Hearing loss impacts employees’ social and emotional health. It affects workplace productivity and inclusivity. And individuals with hearing loss often earn less, are unemployed or underemployed at higher rates, and face greater challenges to career development, according to the Hearing Health Foundation.
Hearing benefits may provide solutions for individual employees and set your health plan apart from competitors. Following are common examples of hearing benefits:
- Hearing exams
- Hearing aids
- Specialized instruments and adaptations
Hearing exams can help medical providers assess an employee’s needs. EBN reports on three common screenings:
- Questionnaires: Employees provide answers on topics such as how often they ask others to repeat themselves, if they find it difficult to hear in loud environments, whether they can hear whispers, and if they experience pain or ringing in the ears.
- Pure tone tests: This type of exam measures an individual’s ability to hear beeps at different volumes and frequencies.
- Digits-in-noise tests: This captures how well a person hears numbers when there is background noise.
These screenings provide a base level of data and inform next steps. And that doesn’t just mean treatment. Annual or semiannual exams can help individuals preserve their hearing and catch hearing damage early, before it becomes more severe.
There are many different types of hearing aids. But price is often a barrier. An average pair costs between $2,000 and $7,000, according to GoodRx Health.
Hearing benefits can increase access and affordability. For example, you might cover hearing aids as you do frames and lenses for eyeglasses, by paying a set dollar amount or a percentage of the full cost. You can also partner with providers to reduce costs. In addition, compensation can be structured so audiologists are paid for meeting with and advising plan members, not for selling hearing aids or other products.
Specialized instruments and adaptations
Not all hearing benefits are related to provider settings. You may opt to perform a workplace audit to enhance the auditory environment for everyone. Options include specialized headphones and apps that can help:
- Reduce or avoid high volumes
- Promote behaviors that reduce the risk of hearing loss
- Decrease stress related to conditions like tinnitus
In addition, vocal ranges and frequencies can be adjusted on phone and computer settings. This may allow users to lower the overall volume and reduce hearing fatigue.
Examining your options
For more information on hearing benefits, talk with your insurance broker or benefits adviser. They can help you examine benefit offerings and costs. In addition, they can review vendor options and compensation structures.
Watu milioni 48 wana upotezaji wa kusikia. Zaidi ya wafanyakazi milioni 22 wanaathiriwa na kelele za kazi, kulingana na Shirika la Amerika la Watu Wenye Uharibifu wa Sikiaji. Kulingana na Shirika la Kihispania la Kihispania la Kihispania, ni asilimia 11 tu ya watu walioathiriwa ambao wamepata matibabu. Ukosefu wa faida za kusikia waweza kueleza kutoelewana huko. Kulingana na Shirika la Usimamizi wa Rasilimali za Binadamu (SHRM), vizuizi vya kifedha ni sababu kuu ya watu kuepuka matibabu yanayohusiana na kusikia. Zaidi ya asilimia 90 ya wafanyakazi wanapata faida za afya kupitia mwajiri wao, lakini chini ya asilimia 30 wana faida za kusikia, ripoti ya Employee Benefit News (EBN). Faida za kusikia zinaweza kujaza utupu Wafanyakazi wanategemea sana faida za mwajiri kwa matibabu yanayohusiana na kusikia. Zaidi ya nusu ya wafanyakazi waliopokea vifaa vya kusikia walisema wangekuwa wamengoja kwa muda mrefu zaidi kushughulikia suala hilo ikiwa mwajiri wao hakuwa ametoa faida za kusikia. Hata wafanyakazi ambao hawana haja ya vifaa vya kusikia wanataja umuhimu wa uchunguzi, mitihani na faida zinazohusiana. Katika utafiti uliofanywa na Sherm, karibu asilimia 95 ya wafanyakazi walisema faida za kusikia ni muhimu. Zaidi ya asilimia 50 wanasema ni muhimu au muhimu sana. Kupoteza kusikia si tu kuathiri wafanyakazi katika mazingira yenye kelele kama vile ujenzi na utengenezaji. Kwa sababu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya kazi na maisha ya nyumbani, wafanyakazi wengi wa ofisi wanapata uchovu wa kusikia. Uchovu wa kusikia hufafanua usumbufu wa sikio au kutokuwa na hisia kwa sababu ya mfiduo wa sauti ya kudumu. Wafanyakazi mara nyingi huvaa vichwa vya sauti kujibu simu, kufanya mikutano mtandaoni, kuzuia kelele za ofisi au kusikiliza muziki wa nyuma. Wengi kisha kwenda nyumbani na kuvaa earphones kwa mkondo maonyesho, kusikiliza muziki na kucheza michezo online. Kuongeza kwa ushiriki wa kusikia kazini na nyumbani ni sababu ya wafanyakazi kulalamika juu ya uchovu wa kusikiliza. Katika utafiti uliofanywa na Tuned, kampuni ya mashauriano ya kusikia, asilimia 74 ya wafanyakazi wanasema wamepata uchovu wa kusikiliza. Zaidi ya asilimia 60 walisema kwamba walihitaji kupumzika kazini kwa sababu ya uchovu wa kusikia. Aina ya faida ya kusikia Ingawa faida ya kusikia si kuenea sana, wao ni muhimu. Kupoteza kusikia huathiri afya ya kijamii na kihisia ya wafanyakazi. Inaathiri uzalishaji wa mahali pa kazi na ujumuishaji. Watu wenye upotezaji wa kusikia mara nyingi hupata mapato kidogo, hawana kazi au hawana kazi ya kutosha kwa viwango vya juu, na wanakabiliwa na changamoto kubwa kwa maendeleo ya kazi, kulingana na Shirika la Afya ya Usikilizaji. Faida za kusikia zinaweza kutoa suluhisho kwa wafanyikazi mmoja-mmoja na kuweka mpango wako wa afya tofauti na washindani. Mifano ya kawaida ya faida za kusikia ni: - Mtihani wa kusikia - Vifaa vya kusikia - Vifaa maalum na marekebisho Mtihani wa kusikia unaweza kusaidia watoa huduma za matibabu kutathmini mahitaji ya mfanyakazi. "Kulingana na ripoti ya EBN, ""Wajibuji hutoa majibu juu ya mada kama vile mara ngapi wanawaomba wengine kurudia, ikiwa wanapata shida kusikia katika mazingira ya kelele, ikiwa wanaweza kusikia kunong'oneza, na ikiwa wanapata maumivu au sauti ya masikio.""" - Mtihani wa sauti safi: Aina hii ya mtihani hupima uwezo wa mtu wa kusikia beeps kwa kiasi na masafa tofauti. - Digits-katika-ngurumo vipimo: Hii captures jinsi vizuri mtu husikia namba wakati kuna kelele ya nyuma. Uchunguzi huu hutoa kiwango cha msingi cha data na kuelimisha hatua zifuatazo. Na hilo halimaanishi tu matibabu. Uchunguzi wa kila mwaka au wa kila nusu mwaka unaweza kuwasaidia watu kuhifadhi kusikia kwao na kugundua uharibifu wa kusikia mapema, kabla ya kuwa mbaya zaidi. Kuna aina nyingi tofauti-tofauti za vifaa vya kusaidia kusikia. Lakini mara nyingi bei huwa kizuizi. Kwa mfano, kwa mfano, bidhaa za kawaida za afya za kawaida zinagharimu kati ya $ 2,000 na $ 7,000 kwa kila bidhaa, kulingana na GoodRx Health. Faida za kusikia zinaweza kuongeza upatikanaji na bei nafuu. Kwa mfano, unaweza kulipa gharama za vifaa vya kusikia kama vile unavyofanya kwa miundo na lensi za miwani, kwa kulipa kiasi fulani cha dola au asilimia ya gharama kamili. Unaweza pia kushirikiana na watoa huduma ili kupunguza gharama. Kwa kuongezea, fidia inaweza kupangwa ili wataalamu wa sauti walipwe kwa kukutana na kushauri wanachama wa mpango, sio kwa kuuza vifaa vya kusikia au bidhaa zingine. Vifaa maalum na marekebisho Si faida zote za kusikia zinazohusiana na mipangilio ya mtoa huduma. Unaweza kuchagua kufanya ukaguzi wa mahali pa kazi ili kuboresha mazingira ya kusikia kwa kila mtu. Vipengele vya sauti vinaweza kusaidia kupunguza au kuepuka sauti kubwa, kukuza tabia zinazopunguza hatari ya kupoteza kusikia, kupunguza mkazo unaohusiana na hali kama vile tinnitus, na pia, vipimo vya sauti na masafa yanaweza kurekebishwa kwenye simu na kompyuta. Hii inaweza kuruhusu watumiaji kupunguza kiasi cha jumla na kupunguza uchovu wa kusikia. Kwa maelezo zaidi juu ya faida za kusikia, zungumza na wakala wako wa bima au mshauri wa faida. Wanaweza kukusaidia kuchunguza faida na gharama zinazotolewa. Kwa kuongezea, wanaweza kukagua chaguzi za wauzaji na miundo ya fidia.