UNTREATED hearing loss may be affecting millions of workers who risk losing out on opportunities and even pay increases, experts warned today.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of the 15,000 people who responded to the EuroTrak UK 2025 survey said they believed delaying treatment harmed their performance at work.

Nearly half (46 per cent) said workers who have not sought help for hearing loss were less likely to be promoted, and 42 per cent said this reduced their chances of getting the position they deserved.

HighBarHR consultant Paul Edmondson explained that because hearing loss is an invisible disability, “employees can easily be misunderstood.”

He called for employers to make “small adjustments, such as providing captions on video calls, sharing written meeting notes and ensuring everyone can see the face of the person who is speaking” to “help talented employees perform at their best while creating a more supportive workplace for everyone.”