When people reach the start of old age, usually from age 50, they may start experiencing the gradual loss of hearing. For some people, this starts at a younger age, depending on factors such as genetics, environment, health condition and lifestyle. Employees, business owners and employers alike, who suffer from the loss of hearing, are more likely to go on permanent disability or seek early retirement. The clinical reason, or the actual hearing impairment, is only one of the reasons why people tend to withdraw from the labor market. Usually, other reasons associated with hearing impairment cause the retirement. An example of such is the way a hearing impaired individual copes with the loss of hearing. Some people tend to get by with the use of hearing devices such as hearingaids, while some, who have strenuous or physically demanding jobs that may cause discomfort when using hearing aids, may not be as fortunate.

In women, the loss of hearing can cause them to suffer from very low self esteem that may cause them to retire from work even at an early age, and withdraw into household chores instead.