Work Disability and Rehabilitation in Workers with Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review

As organisations increasingly prioritise inclusive employment, more people with disabilities are entering the workforce. Hearing loss, a common yet often invisible disability, presents a significant and under-recognised occupational health challenge. This scoping review synthesises evidence on how individuals with hearing loss navigate workplace demands and examines the implications for occupational health policy and practice.

A scoping review of literature published between 2010 and 2025 was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidance. Systematic searches were completed across Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Web of Science to identify studies examining hearing loss in relation to work participation and occupational health outcomes. Eligible studies were synthesised using thematic analysis.

Thirty-four studies met inclusion criteria across diverse countries and occupational settings. Four interrelated themes were identified: (1) individual strategies for managing hearing loss at work, including communication approaches and decisions around disclosure; (2) workplace accommodations, encompassing technological and environmental supports, training and organisational initiatives, and social connectedness, alongside persistent gaps between policy intent and practice; (3) occupational health and wellbeing outcomes, including psychosocial impacts, work-related fatigue, need for recovery, identity negotiation, and occupational stress; and (4) multi-level recommendations addressing individual, organisational, and policy domains to support sustainable employment.

Hearing loss in the workplace presents substantial occupational health implications, including psychosocial stress, communication barriers, and increased need for recovery after work. Workplace accommodations show potential to support inclusion and improve health outcomes, yet implementation remains inconsistent. Further research is needed to rigorously evaluate occupational health interventions and accommodations, particularly within low- and middle-income contexts where evidence is limited.