Working from home is a challenge for many of us, starting with learning how to communicate with colleagues via Zoom, then getting to know the minute details of conference phone calls. But imagine what it might be like if you were deaf or hard of hearing.

Finally, research published by a charity group concerned with hearing loss found that three-quarters of deaf people are afraid of being less productive while working from home.

The research concluded that working at home is a major challenge for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, and who are more vulnerable to further isolation, due to social divergence measures. While many people use phone and video calls to stay in touch with friends, families, and co-workers, people who suffer from hearing loss, especially those who use sign language, will be excluded from these interactions.

A hearing impairment official, Rob Jenny, says that lip reading requires an individual to focus attention on the movement of the lips, and the sound they can hear to compile what is being said, and this is stressful; explaining: “It is useful, then, to consider using text boxes or visual displays , Along with video conferencing, especially when it comes to complex numbers or terms. ”

In the UK, 12 million people experience hearing loss, and 65% of Deaf people are involved in the job market, compared to 79% of the general population. An estimated 24,000 people use BSL, as their main language. The Equality Act, 2010 obliges employers to make adjustments, and the Government Work Access Program provides grants for specialized equipment. "To make the workplace easier," confronted someone when speaking to him, and spoke to them one by one at meetings, not giving people an office facing the wall, but allow them to reach the office, so they can communicate.

He adds, "The main thing to work from home is that managers must feel able to speak to supervising members about the issue of hearing loss and the adjustments they need." But charity work groups revealed a reluctance among employees to detect hearing loss at work, because of embarrassment, pressure, or fear that this might affect job opportunities. And someone said, "I want to do a good job at work, and I don't want anyone to see deafness weak."

"It is a hidden condition," Jenny says, "and many employees who have hidden hearing loss and dealt without any support, may now need support to find adjustments that suit them." Likewise, people who have adjustments made to their workplace may now need new ones, such as mobile phones.

Behavioral changes

Behavior changes include speaking one by one, muting them when they are not speaking to reduce background noise, and having a clear agenda to provide context and contextual clues to what is being said. For video conferencing, it is useful to have a square camera, and show everyone clearly from the front.

Research into the hearing loss procedure suggests that the biggest reason why stakeholders are not getting support is because they feel that colleagues lack the knowledge to help. About half of the respondents said that awareness of deaf people - meaning "information about educating colleagues or the manager" - will help them achieve their potential, and more than a third said support for managing anxiety from hearing loss at work will also help.

Deaf people are more likely to suffer from poor mental health compared to others, as communication barriers exacerbate symptoms such as depression, and there are also communication barriers for Deaf people who receive mental health support, because BSL translators are a third party In counseling sessions, designed to be one-to-one. This can affect treatment, as counseling may be less intimate.

Negative positions

It is believed that "reputation" or "negative attitudes towards deaf people" are deeply rooted. Experts say more hearing professionals using sign language will help alleviate the problem. If a deaf person needs to go to the doctor, he must be able to have a conversation with the doctor in his first language. And there should be more people, like doctors, administrators and consultants, doing it.

Network of translators

The City Let College for Adult Education in Central London organizes an annual day for the deaf to raise awareness. However, the event was postponed this year due to the Corona virus. Founded in 1919, the college has started running lip-reading classes for soldiers who have lost hearing in World War I. Courses for deaf people include BSL, English, mathematics and digital skills. There are 12 deaf teachers and six people who are normally heard, but who study in sign language, in addition to a network of BSL translators, who provide support in meetings or job interviews; the college also provides employment counseling to its students, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Deaf. The scholarship helps Deaf students with low incomes pay course and travel fees.

65%

Deaf people are involved in the labor market.