None of us like to admit we’re getting older.  

And none of us like to face the fact that we may be a little less physically fit than we once were. 

In the workplace, those feelings can be heightened by high-pressure environments and demanding schedules.  

But there is one thing we seem most keen of all to deny – hearing impairment. 

With much of our work lives playing out over Teams or Webex or Zoom or such like, that’s a big problem for many. 

In fact, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal, nearly 86% of Americans over 50 who have hearing loss don’t wear hearing aids and it’s perhaps easy to understand why. 

Whether it’s just hearing enhancement you need, or a full-blown hearing aid; the choice, cost and associated stigma can make it an unappealing prospect. 

But it may soon get easier (and more discreet). 

In the US, stalled legislation should soon make it legal for hearing aids to be sold over the counter – opening up the market to the big online players, such as Amazon, and removing the current need for a formal hearing test and prescription from a qualified audiologist. 

And that’s great news for those in the workplace who need help with their hearing but don’t want medical intervention. 

“The world of work has changed so much over the last two years and we all spend large portions of our day on a call or a video conference of one kind or another – that makes the quality of whatever we use to hear on those calls super-important,” says Phillipe Wargniez Jorgensen, Head of the Lifestyle Hearing division at global unified audio and video vendor Jabra, whose innovation in the field is world-leading. 

“It’s unfortunate that 18 million people in the US are aware of their mild to moderate hearing impairment but don’t do anything about it. It’s also unfortunate that more than 30 million have a mild to moderate hearing impairment but don’t know it because they don’t want to submit to a quick hearing test. 

“That’s about the stigma of hearing impairment and its links to ageing. It’s understandable that people choose to struggle on without seeking help, but that is not the best response. People often avoid social gatherings, think twice before meeting friends at noisy bars or even fight over the volume on the TV before looking for ways to improve their hearing. 

“The ultimate goal is to have the many people struggling with their hearing find solutions that are right for them. Whether a device is called a hearing aid or a hearing enhancement device should not influence that decision. Hopefully, the ability for people to choose new, emerging, over-the-counter products without the need for a medical hearing test will soon help those people hear better at work and, in turn, perform better” 

Semantic definitions aside, it’s quality that should be of most interest to those in the market. 

Jabra is part of GN Group, founded 150 years ago and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of medical grade hearing aids that has helped millions of people around the world hear better. 

That combination of pioneering audio engineering and world-leading hearing expertise means the quality box is checked and then some. 

Its ‘Enhance Plus’ hearing enhancing earbuds – which are already sold under licence by audiologists across the US but which are poised to be available over the counter under the expected terms of the approaching new legislation – are a case in point. 

They use four dedicated microphones to reduce background noise and improve speech clarity, so calls and video conferences are crystal clear. 

Also, they are small and discreet – significantly smaller than the leading earbuds on the market in fact – so great for the self-conscious. They are also comfortable, making them easily wearable for up to the 10 hours of their single-charge battery life. 

“Jabra is really tapping into the research and development carried out by the wider GN Group’s audiology arm,” says Wargniez Jorgensen. 

“Enhance Plus have been designed and built from the ground up to deliver exactly what users want.  

“They are practical AND fashionable but most importantly they deliver exceptional hearing enhancement for those who need that bit of extra help in moments that are important to them” 

Sounds perfect..! 

 

To learn more about how Jabra’s products and solutions can help enhance business performance, visit www.jabra.com 

 

 



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