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Hearing Impaired HR Exec Is A Doer—Not Disabled
January 12, 2010
By Molly Clark
If you were to make a list of the abilities an employee needs to succeed in the workplace, my guess is you wouldn't think to include hearing. We take it for granted because it's something that's always with us…if you're lucky.
In truth, hearing is crucial to functioning well in the workplace (and almost every other aspect of life), and it's something some people don't always have with them—like me.
Many people experience hearing loss, and many of those people don't realize what the problem is, or don't get it treated. No matter your profession or lot in life, hearing makes a big difference.
I work in the hospitality industry where interacting with people is at the heart of what I do. I need to be able to communicate clearly with customers and co-workers to coordinate everything that needs to happen.
When I was in my early 20's, I started to notice the world was getting quieter. I found myself watching people's mouths to understand what they were saying, and turning the volume up on the TV and radio. Others noticed the change too, since I frequently asked people to repeat themselves.
I tried to just deal with it, but after a couple years, I decided I needed to find out more about what was happening. I went to get tested, but the results weren't concrete. The doctor said I could benefit from hearing aids, but he didn't recommend them; so I waited.
Things continued to get worse. At work, I would be conducting meetings and would have to approach the person speaking in order to hear them. I also found everyday hearing activities, such as listening to music and watching movies, became harder.
Deciding I needed to take care of the situation, I applied for free hearing aids through a program offered by the state of Florida, where I lived. I received hearing aids, but the ones I received were bulky and plugged my ears so it felt like I was talking under water. I was self-conscious about having huge chunks of plastic in my ears, especially at work, and I was frustrated because I was still having trouble hearing when I used them. They ended up breaking, leaving me still in search of a solution.
I realized that if I wanted to fix the problem for good, I would need to get some quality hearing aids. I saved some money to spend on hearing aids, and visited an audiologist. My audiologist, Dr. Barbara Jenkins, was able to help me identify hearing aids that were small and discreet, as well as effective.
After being fitted for, and receiving the instruments, I immediately noticed the difference. The new hearing aids were comfortable and small. I wasn't worried about how they looked, and I was able hear things I hadn't even realized I was missing.
My ability to perform at work has increased significantly. When people communicate with me, I can understand without straining. I function freely, and know what's going on around me, in meetings, and in other interactions. Without the ability to hear well, I had a much harder time creating the value of which I am capable. My only regret is that I didn't get my hearing loss treated sooner.
Getting tested for hearing and getting treatment when needed can give businesses and their employees important benefits they might not realize are missing. I could survive when I was trying to ignore my hearing loss, but the limitations of poor communication made it hard to thrive. Having access to all the sounds around me has helped me immensely.
Molly Clark is human resources director of a large luxury hotel in the U.S.
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