The relationship between hearing status and the participation in different categories of work: demographics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between hearing status, socioeconomic status and work status. PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional data of 18-64 year old participants (N=1888) from the National Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH) were used. Both normal hearing and hearing impaired subjects participated.
METHODS: Hearing ability in noise was measured with the National Hearing test, an online speech-in-noise test. Educational level, monthly income, being primary income earner and working status (i.e. paid employment, unemployed and looking for work, unfit for work, voluntary work, household work, being a student, or taking early retirement, and the type of work contract) were assessed with a questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were applied.
RESULTS: Participants with poorer hearing ability were less likely to be found in the upper categories of educational level and income, having paid work > 12 hours per week, being a student, or taking early retirement. On the other hand they were more likely to look for work or to be unfit for work. No associations were found with voluntary work and household work. DISCUSSION: Hearing ability seems to be related to both socioeconomic status and being employed. Our findings underline the importance of rehabilitation programs in audiology, aimed at supporting people with hearing impairment to help them to successfully enter or re-enter the workforce.