Should I Mention Tinnitus to New Employer?

[Na_M]

Hello everyone!

I recently landed a new job. And everything was smooth sailing until today when one of my training officers asked if there is anything they need to worry about with me? (The reason being I hardly talk when they are in discussions and tend to ward of attention of myself.) Do you guys think I should mention my tinnitus to my new employer? Please advise me.

 

[Julien87]

Hello NA_M

The reason being I hardly talk when they are in discussions and tend to ward of attention of myself

Because of T? In this case, I think you should. Why not? They would certainly understand you better.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Na_M
Hi Na_M
How intrusive is your tinnitus on a scale of 1 to 10?
We are all different, but usually when someone starts a new job it can take a while to get used to people before they feel comfortable and start opening up. I would tread carefully if I were you because some people can be very unkind. The less said, less accounted for. People can only hurt you by the things you tell them.

Michael

 

[stophiss]

I would say yes. Tell them you want every Friday off because of T...with pay.
Give them a second option of increasing your salary for being a good soldier.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I would say yes. Tell them you want every Friday off because of T...with pay.
Give them a second option of increasing your salary for being a good soldier.

lol Stophiss, I knew you would soon be here....

 

[Champ]

I didn't mention it right away but during my 1-on-1 with my boss I did.

He's really cool about it. He lets me take sick days to go to doctors to get it evaluated/checked. It was a good idea to tell him.

 

[Jomo]

Well as long as your T doesnt prevent you from getting work done i say mention it so they will be more mindful of it. Having a random emergency firedrill without a heads up stinks.

 

[Stew]

My general answer would be that you have a hear disability. The scope of the disability should be in line with the level of intrusion. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it either, but be aware that you might need a Ear Doctor to confirm if there are any other issues. If the intrusion is minor and you do not have any issues with work requirements/environment then I would probably just not say anything.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I didn't mention it right away but during my 1-on-1 with my boss I did.

I agree with the 1-on-1 approach and good for you. The trouble with telling co-workers anything is that it can go against you. They start to think you want special treatment. I would follow @Champ suggestions and give it a while if the tinnitus is really bothering you, and then only tell the Boss.
Michael

 

[Sam Bridge]

My manager asked why there is a constant fuzz noise coming from my phone when I first started so I just told her i had tinnitus. Funnily enough, her grandmother had musical tinnitus and was actually featured on bbc news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-20732332

 

[Candy]

Be open, you may need adjustments, I like having the option to open the window or play white noise.
Additionally if t bothers you it's a challenge you are dealing with, which you should get recognition for, especially when you are delivering the same results as others...

In Europe we have employment rights, not sure where u are from but here we can't be discriminated against...

 

[DebInAustralia]

I too have started a new job..

It was my manager who shared with me after a zzzless night that she has tinnitus too..

So i felt comfortable telling her about mine ...

 

[stophiss]

lol Stophiss, I knew you would soon be here....

You know me Michael. This insidious disorder. T loudness goes up and down like a yo yo for many including me. No control. Only questions and no answers.
All one can do is laugh seriously. This disorder makes us chase our tails like a bunch of monkeys.
Cheers

 

[Na_M]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you all for your responses. It's quite comforting to know that I'm not all alone.

Michael- My Tinnitus isn't that bad actually. I would probably say a 3 (considering 1 is really good, and 10 really bad). I have decided to go with your advise and just keep it on the low for the time being.

Candy - I live in England and I heard it's quite common here. I just hope I meet someone with the same condition as mine at work.

Once again, thank you all. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask me.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Na_M
Na_M. I think you have made the right decision by keeping quiet about your tinntius. I was medically retired from my job many years ago because the tinnitus can be quite severe. It ranges from complete silence to mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe to the point I have to take clonazapam to calm it down. I have habituated twice in the 20 years I have had it.

I see that your tinnitus was caused by loud noise. Since you say that it isn't that intrusive try to keep it that way. I advise you to never use headphones even at low volume. If you go to clubs use noise reducing earplugs. Try not to sleep in a quiet room, by using a sound machine at night and set it to play throughout the night until morning. Keep the volume slightly below your tinnitus.

If you follow my suggestions, there is a good chance that your tinnitus will not get worse and might even reduce. Enjoy your new job and in time you will integrate more with your co-workers as you get to know them better, and vice versa. Remember to be careful of the things you divulge as you can't trust anyone.
All the best
Michael

 

[Na_M]

Thank you so much For your advise, Micheal.

Just to add, I do use earphones. But at a very low volume. It doesn't affect my tinnitus at all. But then again, I think we're all different.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Na_M True Na_m we are all different. As long as you keep the volume low through the headphones then hopefully you should be alright. Try not to listen for too long a duration. I speak from many years experience (I don't know everything and I'm still learning) However, I am a tinnitus support contact. Many people have contacted me after their tinnitus had reduced to a low level (like yours) and returned to using headphones and listening at low volume. However, they noticed the tinnitus got louder and it remains that way. So, just be careful.

Michael

 

[Kazue]

I wouldn't tell my manager that I have T unless they were an older person. If you tell them you have T, that means more days off, not being productive, etc. That is very bad for a company so they'll end up giving you the boot. Which is completely understandable.

 

[JurgenG]

I wouldn't tell my manager that I have T unless they were an older person. If you tell them you have T, that means more days off, not being productive, etc. That is very bad for a company so they'll end up giving you the boot. Which is completely understandable.

That doesn't make any sense to me..

 

[glynis]

I think being honest about tinnitus to an employer will help build a honest relationship and understanding about it and can help if your working environment needs adjusting to support you in your work place....lots of love glynis

 

[david c]

I think being honest about tinnitus to an employer will help build a honest relationship and understanding about it and can help if your working environment needs adjusting to support you in your work place....lots of love glynis

Nice thought Glynis. Meanwhile in the real world ....

 

[glynis]

Nice thought Glynis. Meanwhile in the real world ....

I think if you then need time off if going through stress,depression and anxiety and tinnitus rages due to it they will have better understanding.
Work know I have menieres and tinnitus and sever asthmatic and they are very supportive and as we are all highly first aid trained I know I'm in safe hands and they are too...
Bosses could have tinnitus also....lots of love glynis

 

[david c]

Wow your employer sounds super-understanding of your needs Glynis. What kind of work do you do btw?

 

[glynis]

I work in a school.....lots of love glynis

 

[david c]

I work in a school.....lots of love glynis

Oh that's great for you Glynis. Teaching is a really demanding profession. I have a few friends who were teachers, some with tinnitus and let's just say that their headteachers weren't quite so prepared to be so accommodating to their needs. "Tinnitus rages" might have to take a back seat if you've got a class of thirty to teach, let's say. So it's great that yours have been so understanding to your needs as a teacher.

 

[david c]

I work in a school.....lots of love glynis

Oh sorry I just realised that I've assumed that you're a teacher. Is that correct?

 

[Tom Cnyc]

not immediately. but yes, eventually. most people I work with know.

 

[Bobby B]

Depends what the cause of T is
If it's anxiety / stress / depression maybe no

If it's an accident - noise trauma, infection etc. tell them you had an inner ear damage / injury which produces a few issues such as T and extra sensitive ears

 

[erik]

No I wouldn't. Most who don't have it cannot understand nor be sympathetic to your plight.

 

[Lex]

Depends on a few things. Are you expected to make lots of calls? Attend video conferences? Visit noisy places? Work with a lot of people in a small space? You may have only T and not H, but some noises tend to worsen T which you don't want to happen.