The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new technical assistance, “Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” addressing how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to job applicants and employees with hearing disabilities. The series of questions and answers and example workplace scenarios involving individuals with hearing impairments is not binding law but reflects the EEOC’s position on topics informative for all employers navigating their obligations under the ADA related to any disability. The technical assistance highlights the uniqueness of hearing conditions, and how they may trigger ADA obligations. The EEOC identifies potential accommodations for hearing conditions, such as use of a sign language interpreter, assistive technology, assistive listening devices, augmentative communication devices, and translation tools.
