Why Millennials and Generation Z Employees Have Hearing Loss

Hearing loss usually is considered a problem that people get when they’re older. But an alarming trend is occurring – more and more younger adults have hearing problems. Studies show that about 10% of millennials and 17% of Generation Z have some level of hearing loss. This trend is concerning to employers as hearing loss can affect employees’ work performance. Why is this trend occurring? Here’s why millennials and Generation Z employees have hearing loss.

Causes

People can experience hearing loss for many reasons. Two common types that affect the majority of people are presbycusis and noise-induced hearing loss. However, the latter is most common for millennials and Gen Z.

1. Presbycusis

Hearing loss occurs naturally with age. Throughout life, people hear sounds at many noise levels. Over time, the tiny hairs in the ears that pass sounds to the brain get damaged, and people lose some level of hearing.

2. Noise-induced

Hearing loss occurs when people are continually exposed to loud sounds. For millennials and Gen Z, listening to loud music with head phones can be a problem. The inner ear hairs are destroyed and cannot be restored. Researchers believe that hearing loss could lead to dementia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 40 million people ages 20 to 69 have hearing damage from everyday noise.

Impact

Medical experts believe that millennials and Generation Z employees have hearing loss caused by noise-induced environments. Besides listening to personal music on digital devices, younger adults also enjoy attending concerts and shows and participating in dances where music and sounds are loud. Due to improved amplification technology, noise experts say that sounds at events are louder than ever.

In business offices or remote work situations, employees spend hours using earbuds or headphones. They are listening to phone conversations, online team meetings and webinars. They also may play music to block out other sounds. Many millennials and Gen Z workers are not aware when the volume is too loud. Here’s a tip to share with employees: If people standing near them can hear sounds from their earbuds or headphones, the volume is too high.

Advice

Hearing experts encourage employees of all ages to protect their hearing by:

1. Keeping the volume level at 85 decibels, or lower, when using earbuds or headphones. If listening at a higher level, such as 100 decibels, take a break every 15 minutes to give the ears a rest.
2. Using noise-canceling earplugs when attending events with loud sounds. Avoid sitting or standing near speaker systems.
3. Stopping smoking. Research shows that smokers are 60% more likely to develop hearing loss than nonsmokers.
4. Investing in new technology. New headsets are designed to better protect users’ ears from hearing damage. For example, many kids are spending hours every day using headphones and earbuds for school or gaming systems. There are several new styles designed to protect their hearing.

For people who have hearing problems, new hearing aid devices are much more affordable than traditional hearing aids. Some are nearly invisible and make hearing a whole lot easier.

Sources and References:
AARP
Hearing Wellness Solutions