Who pays for assistive technology in the workplace for people with hearing impairments?

The Integration Office, the German Pension Insurance (DRV), and the Employment Agency may provide funding for assistive technology such as FM systems, conference microphones, or telephone amplifiers. The costs are often covered in full.

As a person with hearing loss, at what level of disability (GdB) am I entitled to accommodations at work?

Starting at a GdB of 30, equal treatment is possible, which provides access to many accommodations for people with disabilities in the workplace. Starting at a GdB of 50, employees are entitled to special protection against termination and five additional vacation days per year.

Do hearing aids really help in everyday work life?

Yes. According to the 2025 EuroTrak Hearing Study, 96 percent of working hearing aid users say they benefit from their hearing aids on the job. 55 percent are convinced that their hearing aids will allow them to stay in the workforce longer.

What is an FM microphone system, and what do I need it for?

An FM microphone system transmits speech wirelessly directly to hearing aids, without distracting background noise. It is especially helpful during meetings, training sessions, or in noisy work environments such as open-plan offices.

What is Workplace Integration Management (BEM), and how can it benefit me?

The BEM applies if you have been unable to work for more than six weeks within a twelve-month period. Your employer is then required to work with you to find solutions—for example, by making adjustments to your workplace or providing assistive technology for people with hearing impairments. The goal is to help you keep your job.

Hearing Better at Work | Ihr-Hörgerät.de

The Most Important Points at a Glance

Hearing loss in the workplace often leads to stress, misunderstandings, and career setbacks, especially in meetings, on the phone, and in open-plan offices.
Technical aids such as FM microphone systems, conference microphones, or telephone amplifiers, as well as measures to improve room acoustics, can make day-to-day work significantly easier. Financial assistance is available through the Integration Office, the German Pension Insurance (DRV), and the Employment Agency.
According to the 2025 EuroTrak Hearing Study, 96 percent of working hearing aid users say they benefit from their hearing aids on the job.

The meeting is in progress, everyone is talking, and you can only make out half of what’s being said. The phone rings, but you can barely make out who’s calling. In an open-plan office, noise bombards you from all sides. For people with hearing loss, this is often auditory chaos.

According to the EuroTrak Hearing Study 2025, on average, three years pass between the discovery of hearing loss and the fitting of hearing aids. During this time, those affected put up with professional disadvantages, often without knowing what assistance they’re entitled to.

BVHI Infographic on the Lifespan of Hearing Aids — Statistics on First Hearing Aids and Time to Purchase

Why Hearing Loss Is So Stressful in the Workplace

Every work environment has its own challenges. For people with hearing loss, many of these become daily obstacles:

Meetings with multiple participants who all speak at once
Phone calls and video conferences where voices sound unclear
Open-plan offices with high noise levels and few places to retreat
Misunderstandings with coworkers or supervisors
Exhaustion from having to listen intently all the time

The Impact on Health and Career

Untreated hearing loss has measurable effects, both physically and professionally. This is confirmed by the EuroTrak Hearing Study 2025: 69 percent of people with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids feel physically exhausted in the evening, compared to just 39 percent of hearing aid users. Self-confidence also suffers: 54 percent of hearing aid users report that their self-confidence has increased as a result of their hearing aids.

And the benefits of hearing aids are also clearly noticeable in the workplace. 96 percent of working hearing aid users say they benefit from their hearing aids in their daily work life.

BVHI Statistics - Evening Fatigue Among Hearing Aid Users Compared to Those with Untreated Hearing Loss

Assistive Technology for the Workplace

Hearing aids alone are not enough in some situations. Additional technical aids can make everyday work life considerably easier. Employers are legally required to make workplaces accessible to people with disabilities and to equip them with the necessary technical aids (Section 164(4) of SGB IX—Book 9 of the Social Code):

Telephone amplifiers: Amplify the conversation directly through the receiver and are ideal for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Conference microphones: Pick up voices from throughout the room and transmit them directly to the hearing aids.
FM and Bluetooth microphone systems: Wirelessly transmit speech directly to hearing aids—this is particularly useful during meetings or training sessions.
Room Acoustics Measures: Sound-absorbing materials such as curtains, partitions, or carpets noticeably reduce noise levels in the office.

Readhere to learn how you can improve the room acoustics in your home.

Modern hearing aids can be connected directly to a phone, computer, or conference system via Bluetooth. This way, phone calls and online meetings are transmitted directly to the ear, without any detours and without the need for additional devices.

Funding Options: Who Pays for Assistive Technology?

In most cases, you do not have to pay for assistive technology at work yourself. Various agencies cover all or part of the costs:

The Integration Offices in Germany support employees with severe disabilities and those deemed to have equivalent disabilities who have hearing impairments. They can provide grants for assistive technology and workplace accommodations, such as FM microphone systems, conference microphones, telephone amplifiers, or sound-absorbing room furnishings. The staff at the integration offices will advise you free of charge on all questions regarding financial support and accommodations in the workplace.
The German Pension Insurance (DRV) provides funding for technical assistive devices for people with hearing loss as part of its benefits for participation in working life—such as special telephone systems or Bluetooth transmission devices. The prerequisite is that the assistive devices are necessary to retain a job or to take on new employment.
The Employment Agency may also provide funding for technical aids for people with hearing loss, particularly when it comes to starting a new job or retaining an existing one.

Anyone who is granted a degree of disability (GdB) due to hearing loss is entitled to various forms of compensation for disadvantages. You must always apply for these:

Prohibition of Discrimination: Your employer may not discriminate against you because of your hearing loss, neither during the hiring process nor during the course of your employment.
Workplace Adaptations: Your employer is required to adapt your workplace so that you can perform your duties effectively despite your hearing loss, for example, by providing assistive technology or ensuring a quieter work environment.
Equal Treatment Starting at a GdB of 30: Anyone with a GdB of 30 or 40 whose hearing loss demonstrably affects their ability to work may apply to be treated as a person with a severe disability (minimum of 18 hours of employment per week). Those granted equal status benefit from the same measures to compensate for occupational disadvantages, such as protection against termination and participation benefits.
Special Protection Against Dismissal: For a GdB of 50 or higher, dismissal is only possible with the consent of the Integration Office. Individuals granted equal status (GdB 30 or 40) are also entitled to this protection.
Additional vacation starting at a GdB of 50: Five additional vacation days per year—to compensate for the greater fatigue caused by the constant strain of listening in everyday work life.
Exemption from Overtime: Upon request, you may be exempted from overtime, as long workdays with numerous conversations and meetings are significantly more exhausting for people with hearing impairments.

Find out how people with hearing loss navigate their daily professional lives inan interview with Jochen Müller, a communication coach and life coach for people with hearing loss and the founder ofKommunikationsbrücke.

Hearing aids make the job easier

Modern hearing aids provide targeted assistance in everyday work life:

Noise cancellation: Hearing aids automatically detect and reduce background noise.
Directional hearing and speech enhancement: Directional microphones highlight the voice of the person who is currently speaking.
Bluetooth connectivity: Phone calls and online meetings are streamed directly to the hearing aids.
Reverberation reduction: Echo effects in large rooms are reduced, making them ideal for meetings.

Talk openly with your employer and coworkers about your hearing loss. Only those who are aware of the situation can be considerate and arrange for support.
Apply for assistive technology through the Integration Office, the German Pension Insurance (DRV), or the Employment Agency; the costs are often covered in full.
Check whether you’re eligible for a disability rating and what accommodations you’re entitled to. The Integration Office offers free counseling.
Have your hearing aid specialist adjust your hearing aids to your work situation, with a special hearing program for meetings or phone calls.
Ask your colleagues to speak clearly and to look at you when they speak.

Hearing Care Professionals – Partners for Optimal Hearing at Work

Audiologists can tailor your hearing aids specifically to your work situation. Someone who works in an open-plan office needs different settings than someone who spends a lot of time on the phone or in meetings.

Get some advice and take this opportunity to discuss your daily work routine. You can find a hearing care professional near you using our hearing care professional locator.

Hearing loss at work is not an obstacle

Hearing loss in the workplace doesn’t have to be a barrier to your career. With the right hearing aids, assistive technology, and appropriate support, you can actively and productively participate in the workforce. Accommodations protect your job and help you maintain your health.

Take the first step now: Test your hearing with our online hearing test.