YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Young professionals must hear clearly to be successful in today's competitive business environment. In meetings, multi-person conference calls, and even "water-cooler" conversations, vital information or instructions must be clearly heard and understood.

Additionally, young professionals must stay well-versed with new communication technologies. Even if you don’t have a hearing loss, you can choose to accessorize your phone or media player with custom made ear phones. Jones Hearing is ready to assist you, whatever your need.

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Custom-Made Earphones

Celebrate your individuality and make a status statement to friends and co-workers by personalizing your iPod, MP3 player, or other audio device with custom-fitted and custom-colored ear pieces. Have gym friends asking why your ear buds never fall out when you are on the treadmill. Stand out by showing you are savvy to the latest trends in music and hearing technology.

If you do have a hearing loss, don’t be ashamed of it; don’t try to hide it. Hearing aids now come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns, made specifically for members of younger generations who take pride in being fashionable and using state-of-the-art technology.

Hearing Loss in the Workplace

In today’s competitive corporate world, socializing with colleagues and customers is just part of the job. Feel confident and comfortable in any setting by addressing your hearing problem the smart way. Jones Hearing can fit you with a discrete “ITE” (in-the-ear) or “ITC” (in-the-canal) hearing aid, or order a custom-made fashionably colored hearing aid, whichever is appropriate for your workplace culture and your personal style preference.

It may be tempting to keep your hearing loss a secret, but studies show that over time, an untreated and undisclosed hearing loss may be damaging to a career. One study learned that wearing a hearing aid could actually increase your salary over time. Other research indicates that when the workplace accommodates those who have hearing loss, the employee will reward the employer with exceptional loyalty and extra effort on the job.

If you have a hearing loss, consider these ideas to ensure your continued productivity:

• Hold meetings in well-lit rooms where you can clearly see the face of each speaker. You should be able to sit with your back to any large windows to avoid glare that might prevent you from seeing a speaker’s face. Have the chairperson request that participants refrain from speaking simultaneously. Bring a directional microphone with you.
• Formal meetings should have an agenda that makes the meetings easier to follow and have minutes put in writing afterwards so as to confirm if you missed anything of importance.
• For long meetings, ask that regular breaks be scheduled in order to relax your concentration.
• Keep external sources of sound in your office or workspace to a minimum. Close the doors to the hallway and turn off as many sources of ambient sound as possible. If a spontaneous meeting happens outside your workspace, ask if you can move to an office or quiet area.
• Turn up the ringer volume on your telephone or ask for a flashing indicator light or vibrator. You may also ask for a light that indicates someone is requesting entrance to your workspace. Request accessories to amplify your phone and computer speaker volume.
• If you are required to be in an industrial area with loud mechanical noises, use hearing protection to reduce the sound reaching your ears. Some protective devices can even be adjusted to mask some sounds while allowing other sounds in. Ensure that whatever type of protection you use does not place excessive pressure on either your hearing aids or your ears.