Category: Blog

As the U.S. senior population climbs, so does hearing loss. More than 30% of seniors 65 and older experience hearing loss, reaching 40% for those 75 and older.¹ A sudden or gradual hearing loss can be a jarring experience for seniors already dealing with health or community issues.

Social isolation is a lack of contact or meaningful interaction with friends, family, and the larger community. As one gets older, social isolation can occur due to health issues, the deaths of loved ones, and especially hearing loss. Add this to the fact that 27% of adults aged 60 and older live alone.² Older adults may already be coping with social isolation when they begin losing their hearing.³ Since communication is the root of social interaction, hearing loss can sap enjoyment of social activity. Conversations become muffled and faded, forcing a retreat into solitude. Seniors with hearing loss use tools to support their communication and independence. These solutions include:

• Captioned phone service⁴
• Mobile apps⁵
• Hearing aids

With assistive technology becoming more accessible, social isolation among seniors with hearing loss can be alleviated.⁶

Understanding social isolation in the context of hearing loss

Social isolation is a significant challenge for seniors with hearing loss. It concerns not only the physical aspect of being unable to hear but also the social and psychological effects. The psychological impact of hearing loss can be profound, leading to emotional distress, frustration, and cognitive overload. I am reminded of my grandmother, who began losing her hearing in her 70s. Before that, she was talkative and loved sharing stories, but she became withdrawn when she realized she couldn’t follow conversations at the family table. One-on-one conversations became the norm for her. She loved shopping if only one person went with her, but she was not the same person she had been before the hearing loss. For Paul, 82, the impact of social isolation alleviated when he got his first pair of hearing aids. They help him feel included in conversations, and he doesn’t say “What?” as often anymore. Living alone affords him the solitude he craves, surrounded by books and art, and he has regular social engagements. Seniors who crave social interaction often find hearing loss robs them of this joy. Consequences can include:

• Decreased social activity
• Miscommunication and misunderstandings
• Strained family relationships
• Stigma⁷

Challenges for seniors with hearing loss

Hearing loss can make everyday interactions discouraging. Some common frustrations can include:

• Phone conversations
• Group conversations
• TV and film viewing
• Discerning speech and sounds
• Living independently
• Social misunderstandings

Hearing loss also affects quality of life in many ways:

• Limited access to treatment: The stigma of hearing loss can prevent seniors from accessing hearing aids and assistive technologies8 when needed. Lack of awareness and access are also factors.
• Increased health risks: Studies show links between hearing loss and cognitive decline, falls, and depression.⁹
• Insufficient healthcare communication: Hearing loss can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication between seniors and healthcare professionals, which can have serious health consequences.
• Poor communication: Communication challenges can lead to low interest in social activity, frustration, and detachment.

While these challenges can be overwhelming, solutions such as assistive listening devices¹⁰ and family support can help seniors regain their independence.

Benefits of staying socially connected

Maintaining social connections is good for everyone, not only seniors. Here’s how being socially engaged yields benefits for seniors with hearing loss:

1. Better mental health: Daily social interactions stave off depression and anxiety.¹¹
2. Improved cognition: Social activity keeps the brain active and sharp.¹²
3. A longer life: Studies show that strong social connections can improve lifespan.¹³
4. Improved emotional health: Sharing life experiences with others boosts quality of life. Having confidants is invaluable during tough times.
5. Sense of belonging: Being part of a community helps seniors feel valued.
6. Promotes physical activity: Social activities involving group exercises and daily walks encourage movement.
7. Improved well-being: Socially active seniors report being happier and more content.

A crucial aspect of supporting social connections for a senior with hearing loss is using hearing aids. However, only 1 in 6 people with hearing loss uses this technology.¹⁴ Despite more seniors experiencing hearing loss yearly, hearing aid use is seeing slow growth.

Technology’s role in combating social isolation

Assistive technology’s continued advancements are a boon for seniors with hearing loss, giving them ways to combat social isolation and protect themselves. Here’s how this technology plays a vital role in allaying social isolation:

• Video calls: Services like Skype and FaceTime enable seniors to converse face-to-face with friends and family.
• Mobile apps: Many apps, including CaptionCall Mobile and Sound Amplifier for iPhone, are available to seniors with hearing loss.¹⁵
• Telehealth services: Telehealth became more available during the COVID-19 pandemic and enables easier access to healthcare services.¹⁶
• Smart home devices: These devices connect to the internet and can help seniors live more independently without relying on others. Some examples are Google Home, ecobee Smart Thermostat, and SimpliSafe Home Security System.
• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS): These come in wearable devices that seniors can use to contact emergency services and family members.¹⁷

Seniors today overall are growing more comfortable with technology, with 81% of adults 60 to 69 years of age owning a smartphone.¹⁸ However, there’s high interest among seniors to make smart technology more user friendly.¹⁹

CaptionCall: A key tool to stay connected

Sorenson, the leading language services provider for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing worldwide, provides no-cost captioned phone services for seniors with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone effectively²⁰ through CaptionCall and CaptionCall Mobile.²¹ CaptionCall benefits include:

• Live captions in time with conversation
• Adjustable amplification settings
• Saved transcripts
• Stored contacts
• Real-time captions for 911 calls
• Captioned voicemails

A leader in the industry, Sorenson is paving the way for seniors to maintain solid social connections through captioned phone services. CaptionCall is part of a federally funded program, so Sorenson doesn’t charge users for the service or equipment.

Practical tips to alleviate social isolation among seniors with hearing Loss

We know social isolation can affect a senior’s health and well-being. People with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone the same way a hearing person does can stay connected through captioned phone calls:

• CaptionCall: Sorenson’s CaptionCall service for landline phones converts speech to text, which helps seniors easily follow conversations and creates a gratifying experience.
• CaptionCall Mobile: The mobile caption app is useful away from home and for those who prefer using a smartphone or tablet. This has the same features and benefits as CaptionCall.

CaptionCall by Sorenson provides user-friendly guides and customer support, as well as complimentary delivery, installation, and training.²²

In addition to getting CaptionCall for captioned phone calls, these tips can extend your social connections beyond friends and family:

• Join a local community group: Explore the local senior center or church. Many of them have a range of activities, from cooking to exercise classes. Search Facebook groups, Meetup | Find Local Groups, Events, and Activities Near You , and AARP.
• Volunteer: Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose. Check out VolunteerMatch and Create the Good.²³ You can also contact local organizations.
• Maintain connections online: With assistive technologies and social media, staying in touch with family and friends is easier than ever.
• Explore online learning: Signing up for online courses and workshops is a way to meet others while exploring interests.
• Join a support group: This provides a safe space for sharing your experiences and getting emotional support.²⁴
• Find a community garden: Being outside in nature is therapy for many people, and this is a wonderful way to connect with neighbors.²⁵
• Engage in daily physical activity: Look for exercise groups tailored for seniors.
• Adopt a pet: There are many health benefits to owning a pet.²⁶
• Engage with younger people: Young people and seniors can both learn from the other generation.Learn something new: Exploring a new hobby or interest can lead to new friends and more fulfilling experiences.

Conclusion

Social isolation among seniors with hearing loss is a grave issue but with assistive technology — including CaptionCall by Sorenson — it is possible to break down communication barriers and stay connected.

Maintaining social connections for seniors contributes to increased health, well-being, and longevity. Embracing modern technology can grant seniors newfound confidence and a higher quality of life.

Sorenson is here to help you take advantage of CaptionCall’s features and benefits. We encourage you to reach out and connect with us to build stronger ties with your family and community. Sign up for CaptionCall today.

Sources

1. Hearing Loss Statistics 2024: More Common Than You Might Think
2. Older people are more likely to live alone in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world
3. NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic
4. Captioned Phones for Seniors
5. The Best Hearing Loss Apps of 2023 - Sorenson
6. A Longitudinal Framework to Describe the Relation Between Age-Related Hearing Loss and Social Isolation - Aysha Motala, Ingrid S. Johnsrude, Björn Herrmann, 2024
7. The Stigma of Hearing Loss
8. Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders
9. Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
10. Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders
11. Social Connection
12. 3 ways to build brain-boosting social connections - Harvard Health .
13. Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review
14. Reasons for Low Hearing Loss Treatment
15. The Best Hearing Loss Apps of 2023 - Sorenson
16. The State of Telehealth Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
17. Best Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
18. 2020 Tech Trends of the 50+
19. 2023 Tech Trends: No End in Sight for Age 50+ Market Growth
20. Senior Living Residents - Sorenson
21. Captioned Phones for Seniors
22. Captioned Phones for Seniors
23. Create the Good: Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You
24. Joining a Hearing Loss Support Group
25. What is a Community Garden?
26. How Having a Pet Can Benefit Your Health

Worried your hearing might be going? You’re not alone! Hearing loss impacts almost one-third (30.9%) of Americans over the age of 65 and around 60.7 million Americans as young as 12 years old.

On top of that, global rates of hearing loss have risen sharply in recent years. The World Health Organization estimates this number will reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050.

Much of that growth is among younger people. According to a recent national study, about 12% of children between ages 6 and 19 have permanent hearing damage from exposure to excessive noise. Some research suggests this is often related to listening to music at high volumes with earbuds.

Why it’s important to address hearing loss

An absence of sensation is often more difficult to notice than a new ache or pain. That’s why losing hearing in one ear may be easier to notice than gradual loss on both sides. Add social stigma around hearing loss, and it’s no surprise that it often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed.

According to one estimate, as much as 80% of hearing loss goes undiagnosed. This may not seem like a big deal. After all, many people who were born deaf or have adapted to limited hearing over the course of their lifetimes don’t see it as a problem. However, when hearing individuals begin losing that sense and don’t make necessary adjustments, it can contribute to serious issues.

Untreated/undiagnosed hearing loss can have considerable negative impacts on quality of life.

• Linked to an increased risk of depression, especially in older adults
• Linked to increased social isolation
• Linked to reduced income/job opportunities
• Linked to an increased risk of falling or other accidents
• Linked to increased risk for dementia

What causes hearing loss?

You may think of hearing loss as one of those things that just happens as you age — like back pain or getting really into WWII documentaries. However, there are certain risk factors that may contribute to hearing loss. There are also precautions you can take to protect your ears as you age.

Risk factors for hearing loss

• Aging — The parts of your ears responsible for detecting sounds break down with time. 
• Genetics — Your DNA and genetics may increase your chances of inheriting some types of hearing loss.
• Noisy work environments — Working long hours around loud equipment, increases your risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, wearing ear protection can help mitigate that risk. Headphones playing music do not count as ear protection — in fact, they can make it worse! 
• Loud hobbies — Spending your free time in noisy environments like concerts or gun ranges can be dangerous for your hearing. Again, wearing proper ear protection can reduce the risk of these activities.
• Certain medications — Some medications, including some antibiotics, some chemotherapy drugs, and even some over-the-counter painkillers can increase the chances of someone losing their hearing. Consult a physician or look for warning labels about “ototoxicity,” which is the term for this kind of damage if you’re concerned about any medications you may be taking. 

Types of hearing loss 

The cause of your hearing loss will partially determine your treatment options. There are three distinct types of hearing loss:  

• Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when a part of the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve itself gets damaged. This is the most common type of hearing loss and can be caused by any of the factors listed above. While this often happens over a long period of time, loud noises can sometimes cause sudden hearing loss, which should be treated quickly.
• Conductive hearing loss occurs when an obstruction of some kind prevents sound from passing through the outer or middle ear. This could be related to a buildup of earwax or some other object blocking the ear canal. However, infections, abnormal bone growths, or even damage to the eardrum or ossicles (the three bones attached to the eardrum) can also be the source.
• Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss impacting the middle or outer ear as well as the inner ear.

Signs of hearing loss in

Young children are especially unlikely to recognize when their hearing is going. Even if they do, they may not know how to effectively communicate their situation.

Mistaking the signs that a child may be experiencing hearing loss for other issues is common.

It’s important for parents, teachers, and other guardians to be alert for a combination of these potential signs: 

• Poor enunciation 
• Not following instructions 
• Confusion or lack of attention in conversation with others 
• Setting volume on TVs and other devices very high 
• Trouble in school 

Many schools administer free hearing screenings to all students, usually every other year beginning in kindergarten or first grade. If a child fails a screening or if there is ever a concern about a child’s hearing,the next step is to get a full hearing loss test from an Audiologist. 

Signs of hearing loss in adults 

Even for grown-ups, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize. It can be tempting to write off potential warning signs or chalk it up to something else. 

Below is a list of common signs to watch out for. Read through the list and check those that apply to help you determine whether you or a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss. 

Do you: 

• Have difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments 
• Have difficulty hearing consonants 
• Frequently ask people to speak slower 
• Frequently ask people to speak louder 
• Frequently ask people to speak more clearly 
• Hear better in one ear 
• Feel exhausted after social gatherings, possibly due to listening fatigue 
• Look at people’s mouths when they speak instead of their eyes 
• Hear a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears 
• Frequently turn up the volume when watching TV or listening to music 
• Have difficulty understanding people on the phone 
• Experience dizziness or loss of balance 
• Feel pressure within the ear canal 
• Speak too loudly 

A person with undiagnosed hearing loss may also come across as clumsy or nonsocial. An outside observer may even mistake hearing loss symptoms for age-related cognitive decline.  

Test your hearing at home 

Looking for further proof before you set up an appointment with an audiologist? There are plenty of online options for a quick, self-administered hearing check. These are not replacements for professional hearing screenings, but they can be useful to gauge your current hearing loss. 

Here are a couple of good options to check out: 

• AARP’s National Hearing Test — A free phone-based hearing test available once per year to all AARP members.
• Audicus Online Hearing Test — This free online test takes about 20 minutes and requires headphones. 
• CheckHearing.org — A 3-step test that doesn’t require any membership and provides results in the form of an audiogram similar to those produced by professional screenings. 
• Hear.com — A convenient online hearing test that provides a simple score on a scale of 1-10. 

There are also a number of smartphone apps designed to help you test your hearing.

• Mimi Hearing Technologies — This app allows you to test and track your hearing over time. It can even link with certain headphones to personalize your device’s audio output. 
• MindEar — With a specific focus on tinnitus relief, MindEar also offers a convenient hearing test for your smartphone. 

Degrees of hearing loss

Losing your hearing isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. Sudden extreme hearing loss is possible, but gradual loss of hearing in one or both ears is much more common. Most experts organize hearing loss into four commonly used categories based on severity. 

Mild

The hearing threshold for mild hearing loss is between 26 and 40 dB in the sound frequencies related to human speech. It may feel like trying to listen through earmuffs. Many people with mild hearing loss are able to manage without treatment. Some opt for hearing aids, especially in noisy environments. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with mild hearing loss might include:

• Soft voices or children
• Vowel sounds
• Low-volume notifications or alerts, like car turn signals
• Chirping birds
• A person walking behind you

Moderate

Moderate hearing loss means you can’t hear 41-70 dB sounds in the speech frequency range. Conversations involve a lot of asking people to repeat themselves. At this level of hearing loss, most people are more comfortable with hearing aids. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with moderate hearing loss include:

• Most normal conversational speech
• Voices on the phone
• Consonant and vowel sounds
• Light traffic

Severe 

A person with severe hearing loss cannot hear sounds lower than 71-90 dB. At this level of hearing loss, amplification or hearing aids are necessary for comprehension.  

Sounds that are difficult to hear with severe hearing loss include:

• All normal speech
• Some loud noises
• Alarm clocks
• Loud traffic

Profound

When you can’t hear sounds below 90 dB, you’re suffering from profound hearing loss. At this level, even loud noises aren’t audible without hearing aids or a cochlear implant. Without assistive technology, someone with profound hearing loss relies on reading lips or communicating via sign language. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with profound hearing loss include:

• Fire alarms
• Power tools
• Food processors
• Lawn mowers 

What to do next 

Just like any health-related issue, don’t simply rely on what you read online. If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, it may be time to set an appointment with an audiologist.

They will run some hearing loss tests which will produce an audiogram. This is a visual representation of your unique hearing loss. It shows the degree of hearing loss in each ear and which frequencies you’re having the most trouble hearing.   

Your audiologist specialist will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your unique hearing loss profile. 

Hearing loss in the workplace is more prevalent than most people realize. More than one out of every seven Americans acknowledge they have some trouble hearing. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) says hearing loss is the third most common physical condition, with heart disease and arthritis as the top two. And of the 15% of people who report having hearing loss, the HLAA says 60% are either working or in school.

That means there’s a good chance some of the people working with you have hearing loss, and they may not disclose it to coworkers or employers. It also means most workplaces would benefit from measures to be more accessible and inclusive of the tens of millions of people in the workforce with hearing loss.

• Read about a day in the work life of a hard-of-hearing professional
• See more hearing loss statistics
• Review accessibility options for your workplace

Why your workplace needs to be inclusive of hearing loss

Given the vast number of people who experience hearing loss, it’s not plausible to exclude them from the workplace.

Jump to see numbers on hearing loss rates

The good news is that many steps toward an accessible work environment cost you nothing, nearly all of them will provide benefits to your entire workforce, and making your workplace more inclusive of people with hearing loss could make it more attractive to valuable hard-of-hearing employees…like Katie:

A day in the work life of a hard-of-hearing professional

by Katie Werner  

Every day, five to ten times per day: that’s how often I think about my disability at work. And the more I fear people will be weirded out by it, the more distracting it becomes.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the US, which is in part about building inclusion in the workplace.

Here’s my story:

I have two hearing aids. In layman’s terms, I have a genetic 40% loss that prevents me from catching little sounds. Was that pat, cat or… gat? 🤦 (Hence the shirt in my photo that cracks me up. 😁 #MisheardLyrics)

You could say this only impacted my ears, unless you also consider these types of experiences:

😳  The ear bud phone at my desk…that I can’t wear. *deeply missing speakerphone*

😳 The group meeting… where I try to wedge myself in the middle to make sure I can hear everyone. *just hoping there’s space*

😳 The awkward plant tour…where I have to shove my aids in my pocket to wear hearing protection then stay awkwardly close to the speaker. *don’t bump my expensive pocket!*

😳 The all-employee meeting…where I can only understand certain presenters even if there’s a mic *pretending to engage…ick*

😳 The cell phone call, when I have to press the button on my hearing aid to change the program and prevent squealing. *again missing speakerphone!*

😳 Talking to my neighbor…and realizing I didn’t push the button to reprogram back to normal, so her voice is distorted. *wondering if they’ll wonder why I keep poking my ears*

😳 Learning new names: can you please spell that, so I have even the slightest chance of saying all the sounds? *who the heck did I just meet?*

😳 Sitting in office space…where everyone tries to speak so quietly to avoid bothering others. *100x harder*

😳 The four-day-battery-life, which is just long enough to be in an important meeting and have the hearing aid yell “battery!” into my ear, promptly making itself into an ear plug. *panic*

😳 The realization that very few people at my new company know…and I have to keep sharing because otherwise I can’t get what I need. *yes, I am other*

And even though the stigma reduces as I get older, I sometimes still feel like that little kid trying with all her might to hide her disability (which gave me so many abilities over my life that I feel guilty being ashamed of it!).

Hiding…is emotionally exhausting and terribly distracting. But how distracting it is may depend on you. It makes all the world of difference how people react to my needs and quirks (I’m human after all!).

✖️ If it seems an awkward “why the heck did she say that” moment, I’ll have a hard time refocusing on why we’re here.

❤️ If someone recognizes the situation and says just about anything with a smile, that goes a ridiculously long way to calming the anxious distraction.

Hearing-loss statistics

Katie’s story hits home for a lot of people, in the U.S. and in all corners of the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports more than 1.5 billion people — or roughly 19 percent of the world population — with hearing loss in at least one ear. By 2050, the organization estimates that number will rise to 2.5 billion. Using world population projections from the United Nations that the global population will hover around 9.8 billion in 2050, that would mean more than one out of every four people would have hearing loss by mid-century.

In fairness, those statistics cover the full range of hearing loss, and people with slight to mild hearing loss may consider it an inconvenience or annoyance and not something that interferes significantly with daily activities or communication. However, the WHO currently reports 430 million people worldwide with hearing loss that requires intervention to address the impacts, and the organization projects 700 million people will be in that situation by 2050.

Are rates of hearing loss increasing?

What do these numbers mean? Is hearing loss becoming more common? In short, yes. When the WHO first reported sensorineural hearing loss statistics in 1985, it estimated 42 million people worldwide had moderate to profound hearing loss out of a global population just shy of 4.9 billion. In the four decades since, the world population has grown by 63%, but the WHO’s latest hearing loss estimate of 466 million people with disabling hearing loss is a 1109% increase.

Moreover, while the rate of hearing loss increases with age, it’s increasingly impacting young people, largely due to increased noise exposure. In a 2022 study, researchers concluded that up to 1.35 billion teens and young adults globally are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

Hiring Veterans with hearing loss

Hearing loss disproportionately affects Veterans. It is the most common military service-related condition, affecting at least 3.6 million Americans. The most recent available numbers from the Department of Veterans Affairs show more than 1.3 million Veterans qualified for disability compensation for hearing loss in 2020, and another 2.3 million claimed compensation for tinnitus.

Those numbers only cover individuals with hearing difficulty significant enough to qualify for benefits, not those who experience mild to moderate hearing loss. A 2016 study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests 27% of Veterans have at least some trouble hearing.

For employers who pride themselves on hiring Veterans, hearing loss inclusion in the workplace is a must.

Accessibility measures for hearing loss in the workplace

Making your workplace more inclusive for people with hearing loss doesn’t have to break the bank, and as part of a robust accessibility strategy it can boost productivity and performance for your whole team. Several of the solutions below have no additional associated costs:

Employees whose hearing loss makes captions necessary to use the phone qualify for call captioning at no cost — to them or to their employer — through an FCC-funded program.

Eligible individuals may already use call captioning services like CaptionCall by Sorenson at home, and they can get the same service for work. The service creates live captions of phone conversations and displays them on the large, interactive screen of a specialized phone, which CaptionCall also provides at no cost as part of the service. When qualified individuals request call captioning for work, the CaptionCall team will follow up with the employer about installation.

Hard-of-hearing workers who aren’t at a desk all day can qualify for captioning on the go if they need captions for their phone calls. CaptionCall Mobile is a mobile app that generates instant, accurate captions of cell phone calls and displays them on screen like a text messaging thread. The no-cost app has the same eligibility standards as CaptionCall, and users can download it, self-certify their need directly through the app, and start using the call captioning service within minutes.

Both CaptionCall for desk phone-based captioning and CaptionCall Mobile’s mobile app-based call captioning include two additional benefits to real-time captioning:

• Saved transcripts of calls that users can review for details they may have missed, which is particularly useful for verifying details, including numbers, dates, and names.
• Compatibility with Bluetooth hearing aids to not only avoid interference but allow users to pair hearing aids with their device for better audio delivery.

Put it in writing: agendas, notes, follow-up

Your entire team — regardless of hearing ability — can benefit from written summaries of key information. Making a habit of sharing expectations, action items, presentations, and notes in writing provides insurance against team members mishearing or forgetting important details. It’s doubly beneficial to document project progress and timelines for your records.

Captioning

The same benefits we mentioned above for phone call captioning apply to situations outside of phone calls. For meetings, media, training, or conferences, captioning audio increases accessibility for people with hearing loss, visual learners, and non-native language users.

CART captioning

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning produces live captions of spoken and unspoken audio so users can follow along in real time. The majority of live captioning services — including built-in captioning on smartphones and video conferencing software — use Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) software to produce low-cost captions.

Closed captions, open captions, and transcription

Many people use closed captions to consume media, even if they have perfect hearing. It’s become a staple of how we view television, movies, and online videos because it’s helpful for hearing loss, noisy environments, and listening comprehension. Open captions serve the same purpose. The only difference between them is that users can turn closed captions on or off, while open captions are a permanent addition to your media that appear for everyone.

Transcription services create a full text version of your live or recorded audio as a document to accompany your media, distribute as a supplement or substitute for note-taking, and save for your records.

Assistive-listening systems

Assistive-listening systems (or assistive listening devices) use one of several technologies to amplify sound through a receiver, which could be a hearing aid, cochlear implant, or headset. The most popular are hearing loops, or induction loops, that pair with telecoils built into most hearing aids and allow wearers to tap directly into a sound system for clearer audio by bypassing background noise.

Providing hearing loops or other assistive listening systems in the workplace can make meetings and presentations easier to follow for hard-of-hearing employees. Even if they wear hearing aids, crowded and busy spaces may make it difficult to hear clearly. In one study, 13% of adults reported some trouble hearing while using hearing aids, so assistive listening devices can offer a helpful boost.

Keep in mind, though, that the majority of people who could benefit from hearing aids don’t wear them. Only about 14% of Americans with hearing loss use hearing aids, but they can still make use of assistive listening systems through a receiver and headphones.

Additional benefits of accessibility for hearing loss

Embracing solutions to make your workplace welcoming and accessible for employees with hearing loss will set it apart as a desirable work environment for hard-of-hearing talent and increase the efficiency of your team. But there are also downstream impacts of inclusion:

Attracting top candidates

In-demand talent — with or without hearing loss — can be selective about which employer to lend its skills, and companies that commit to inclusivity have an edge, with 76% of job seekers saying that’s an important factor in evaluating job offers.

Appealing to values-driven customers and partners

Decision-makers care about the values they’re buying into, including accessibility. Partners and investors weigh Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy, as do a growing number of consumers and job candidates; 59% of consumers prioritize choosing businesses that actively promote equity and inclusion. 

Reduce employee turnover

While solutions to welcome people with hearing loss in the workplace offer broad benefits, they’re not yet standard for many employers. Inclusive environments that set employees up for success and reinforce a sense of belonging encourage internal growth rather than leaving for positions at less accessible companies.