1 min read

Season 6, Episode 103

Hearing loss and mental health: Insights from Birdsong Hearing experts

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Guest Name:


Dr. Mike McDonald | Brenda Thompson

Guest Website:


Birdsong Hearing Benefits 

Guest Social Media:


Birdsong Hearing Benefits

Facebook

LinkedIn

Dr. Mike McDonald

LinkedIn

Brenda Thompson

LinkedIn

Supportive Documents:


Dr. Mike McDonald, Director of Audiology, and Brenda Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Birdsong Hearing Benefits, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of hearing loss on mental health, workplace performance and overall well-being.

McDonald began by highlighting the widespread nature of hearing loss in the workforce, with over 22 million workers exposed to hazardous noise annually. He emphasized that untreated hearing loss can lead to significant mental health challenges, including depression and an increased risk of dementia. The stigma surrounding hearing loss often prevents individuals from seeking help, leading to isolation and reduced quality of life. McDonald stressed the importance of early intervention and proper hearing protection in noisy work environments to prevent long-term damage.

The conversation also touched on the broader implications of hearing loss for workplace performance and career advancement. McDonald explained that untreated hearing loss can result in reduced earnings, limited educational attainment and decreased job performance. By addressing hearing issues early, workers can maintain their productivity, improve their chances of career advancement and enhance their overall quality of life. Birdsong's approach makes hearing care more affordable, aims to destigmatize hearing loss and encourages proactive hearing health management through education.

Thompson detailed Birdsong’s unique approach to making hearing care more accessible. Birdsong negotiates with manufacturers and providers as a third-party administrator to offer hearing aids that are 30 percent to 70 percent below retail prices. This significant cost reduction allows more individuals to access necessary hearing care. Thompson emphasized Birdsong's commitment to member satisfaction, regulatory compliance and data security. This commitment ensures a seamless experience for unions, employer groups and health plans implementing hearing benefits.

To learn more about the impact of hearing loss on mental health and Birdsong’s solutions, listen to the full episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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