Two studies released over the last year reveal hearing loss is impacting Baby Boomers where it hurts most: their pocketbooks.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Business Wire EON) October 2, 2007 --
Two studies released over the last year reveal hearing loss is impacting
Baby Boomers where it hurts most: their pocketbooks.
A study conducted by Clarity® (www.clarityproducts.com)
and The EAR Foundation last year confirmed not only the prevalence of
hearing loss among Baby Boomers, but also its negative impact on
performance and productivity on the job, loss of income and overall
quality of life. A similar study released May 16, 2007 by the Better
Hearing Institute (BHI) further reinforced the Clarity/EAR Foundation’s
findings.
Hearing loss among Baby Boomers has increased significantly to
approximately 50 percent of those aged 45-64. It compromises job
performance, resulting in lower salaries, which consequently leads to
less retirement income and investment savings.
The Clarity/ EAR Foundation study found that almost one-fourth (23%) of
individuals who reported a hearing loss said that their hearing loss has
affected their success in the workplace. The areas most usually affected
are hearing and understanding phone calls (64%) and conversations with
co-workers (61%). Additionally, 27% report that their hearing loss has
negatively affected their earning potential.
“The hearing loss of workers impairs their
ability to fully engage in meetings and conversations, giving co-workers
and bosses the impression they are less equipped to handle their jobs,”
explained Carsten Trads, President of Clarity®,
a leading supplier of amplified telephones and other assistive listening
devices. “However, access to technology
solutions such as amplified telephones and other assistive listening
devices can dramatically improve these employees’
productivity and ultimately their success at the workplace.”
To help improve access to hearing loss solutions, Clarity is making a
selection of assistive listening devices available at a dramatically
reduced price, for a limited time, at: www.amplifymylife.com.
“We think everyone should have the ability to
earn a living, regardless of any hearing loss they may experience,”
Trads explained.
The recently released BHI study, “Impact of
Hearing Loss on Household Income,” validated
and shed new light on the earlier findings of the Clarity/The EAR
Foundation study. The study found that untreated hearing loss negatively
affects household income, on average, by nearly $23,000 per year
depending on the degree of hearing loss.
Although people with hearing loss make less money, the use of hearing
aids restores lost income by 50 percent. While people with treated and
untreated hearing loss both earn less than people with normal hearing,
for people with more severe hearing loss, the income decline is cut in
half for hearing aid owners. For example, the difference in income
between people with mild versus profound hearing loss is $20,300 per
year for those with untreated hearing loss and $10,200 for those with
hearing aids.
“Aging Boomers are vital to the American work
force,” said Suzanne Wyatt executive director
of The EAR Foundation, a national nonprofit devoted to hearing loss
education and prevention. “Employers must
realize the seriousness of hearing loss in our society and take positive
steps in finding solutions to help retain this talent.”
The Clarity/The EAR Foundation study was conducted by an independent
research company, Prince Market Research, a member of the Council of
American Survey Research Organizations. The research methodology was
designed to ensure that the results are accurate within a margin of
error of plus or minus 5% at a 95% confidence level. To access the full
report, visit: www.clarityproducts.com/boomer.
The “Hearing Loss on Household Income”
study was based on data from 53,000 members of the National Family
Opinion (NFO) panel. The survey included nearly 2,000 adults with
untreated hearing loss, 2,000 with hearing aids and nearly 40,000 with
normal hearing. The research was conducted by the not-for-profit Better
Hearing Institute. For more information, visit: www.betterhearing.org.
About Clarity
Clarity®, a Division
of Plantronics Inc. (NYSE:PLT), is a leading supplier of amplified
telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices and other
communications devices for the hearing loss and deaf markets. A leader
in sound amplification, Clarity’s patented
technologies, Clarity®
Power™ and Digital Clarity Power™,
provide customized solutions for customers who otherwise could not
communicate easily and effectively with the outside world. As more
people begin to address their hearing needs, Clarity will continue to
provide effective technologies that are simple and easy to use. The
company began in 1969 as a telecommunications manufacturer, and was
acquired in 1986 by Plantronics, Inc., a leading provider of headsets to
business and individual consumers worldwide. For more information about
Clarity and its products, please call 1-800-426-3738 or visit www.clarityproducts.com.
About Plantronics®
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the
moon: “That’s one
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for
mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch,
and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation™
is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center,
personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics
family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and
Volume Logic. For more information, go to www.plantronics.com
or call (800) 544-4660.
Altec Lansing, Clarity, Clarity Power, Digital Clarity Power, the logo
design, Plantronics, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
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