Picture source: Green Living
Why is the boss always shouting at us? Does he/she think that we are deaf?? Shouting, shouting only!
Has anyone experienced this? What could be the problem? What can be done? This is an example that would illustrate the need for employers and employees to recognize hearing impairment/loss and to take the necessary action for this insidious problem in the workplace to reduce one of the causes of stress among all workers contributed by poor communication.
P is a 35 year old supervisor working in a large grocery retail shop in a suburban town. After working for more than 10 years, was finally promoted as a supervisor of the retail shop in charge of goods, housekeeping and distribution. P oversees 20 staffs working 2 shifts. Apart from kitchen and wardrobe section, P handles the overall grocery stock delivery to the display for the customer to choose their household items. P would be considered as a good, strict, near perfectionist supervisor and always ensure all staffs were on their toes. Reprimanding under- performing staff on a daily basis was a norm. Her staff informed that P would speak with a raised voice throughout the day. Therefore, most staff had accepted P’s demanding behavior and loud voice and that would put them under stress most of the time as they too would respond in a loud manner and made communicating difficult.
P had chronic left ear discharge when she was a child prior to a motor vehicle accident 10 years ago. She was under the ENT Specialist followed up throughout her teenage years with the diagnosis of Suspected Conductive Hearing Disease with Moderate to Severe Hearing Loss then, but had defaulted follow-up and did not disclose the medical problem to her employer. On examination in a quiet room, it was apparent that P was a lip reader and had to turn to make eye contact with the person who was talking to have a conversation. P responded normally during the distraction test but could not hear the whispered words. P was advised for an ENT Specialist follow up with the support of the employer. Most individuals similar to P could be assisted with a hearing aid or otherwise will develop deep anger, anxiety and depression when communications start to collapse as accurately described by Lustig & Olson.
“Always accompanying this depression was anger. There was anger at my hearing, anger at my colleagues, angry at my husband. I was short with my kids. I was estranged from my friends. I was angry with the hearing aid industry for not coming up with better products. I was angry at my audiologist for not being able to make me hear again. I was angry at science. I was angry at the world.”
Lustig & Olson (2014)
Generally, there are 2 types of hearing aids. The behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid will be suitable for P. One would perceive that with the assisted hearing device, P’s productivity would improve with regards of communication delivery to her staff. Instructions given would definitely be better received and executed. The administration would confront with a less hostile team and unnecessary work stress prevented once P received appropriate care. With better communication, P’s confidence would improve as a supervisor. This issue was never picked up by management, but rather being accepted due to the job demands at work (the shouting); simply because the environment of work is not presumed to be ‘noisy ‘or it’s the usual behavior of that particular worker.
The role of the occupational health doctor in screening of such workers would be crucial in managing the safety and health of the workplace by informing both management and worker of the issue at hand and to suggest appropriate treatment and management. The environmental noise also should be monitored and complied with and must not exceed the permissible limit of 90dBA and the action level set at 85dBA according to the Factories Machinery Act.
The principles of selecting a hearing rehabilitation program would include safety and efficacy; economy, patient and social values. In fact, much should be invested now for the benefit of workers with hearing impairment. Perhaps a one- stop singular platform for medical consultation that gears to self- fitting and self- adjustable hearing corrective modalities for patients/ workers with hearing disabilities and health education to family members (e.g. Self help or assessments at home) aimed to identify emotional and coping mechanisms via psychosocial counselors to support and help P and similar individuals that have suffered in silence.
This case could be an eye opener for occupational health doctors in managing workers with hearing impairment at work. It was also a good note for physicians involved in social security organizations in Malaysia to assist workers with hearing disabilities and to collaborate with occupational physicians, rehabilitation specialists and ENT specialists improve hearing disabled worker’s health and benefit.
This article was written by a group of Public Health specialists.
REFERENCES
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- Carlsson,P.I., Hjaldahl, J., Magnuson, A., Terneval1, E., Ede´n, M., Skagerstrand, A. & Jo¨nsson, R. 2014. Severe to profound hearing impairment: quality of life, psychosocial consequences and audiological rehabilitation. Disabil Rehabil, Early Online: 1–8, Informa UK Ltd. DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2014.982833
- Dobie, R.A. & van Hemel, S. 2004. Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits. The National Academies. http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11099.html ISBN: 0-309-54514-5
- Graham, C. 2013. Carl’s Life. http://www.carlslife.ca/[22November 2018]
- Kim, S.Y., Kim, H.J., Park, E.K., Joe, J., Sim, S., Choi, H.G. 2017. Severe hearing impairment and risk of depression: A national cohort study. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179973.
- Lustig, T.A. & Olson, S. 2014. Hearing loss and healthy aging. The National Academies Press.Washington D.C. nap.edu. [21 Ocotber 2018]
- Smith, A., Harvest, S., Immanuel, S.P., Prescott, C., van Hasselt, P., Horn, L., Litzke, C. 2006. Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Resource. Student’s Workbook. Intermediate Level. Chronic Disease Prevention and Management. World Health Organization [21 October 2018]
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]