In 2022, thinking about the modern “workplace” no longer conjures up images of office spaces with cubicles and suits. Rather, it encompasses a variety of settings both remote, on the road, and in-person. One thing that is apparent in the modern workforce, however, is the use of new communication technologies such as virtual conference calls and meetings. When looking for research articles and literature on the impact the modern workspace has on hearing, very little is found that isn’t related to those who already have clinical hearing loss. So what about the millions of other employees? Tuned decided to dive into the topic with a survey study — the first of its kind.

Using SurveyMonkey®, Tuned collected data from over 350 respondents, ranging from 20–65 years old, to determine their experiences with hearing health, their access to hearing health via their employer, and their own hearing health experiences. These individuals spanned the entirety of the United States and 36% identified as non-white.

Of the respondents, 80% were employed by an organization on a full-time basis, with all respondents either working remotely or in a hybrid fashion. Of the full-time employees, 92% receive health benefits from their employer. However, less than 50% receive benefits for hearing care.

When focusing solely on the 273 respondents who work full-time and have health benefits, our study found that 74% experience auditory fatigue at the end of their work day with 61% admitting to taking breaks during their workday due to listening fatigue. Additionally, more than half of those individuals wear earphones or headphones for more than 5 hours per day.

The modern workforce also experiences hearing disorders with 56% of full-time employees admitting to having tinnitus (ringing in the ears) within the past year. Furthermore, over 30% of employees have experienced an increase in tinnitus and/or other hearing issues since the pandemic, which can leave employees feeling unproductive and helpless.

Tuned has developed the first platform to connect employers and employees with audiologists to help alleviate what is appearing to be a massive yet solvable problem in the workplace.

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