Untreated hearing loss not only makes it harder to understand speech and other sounds happening around you, but it can put you at risk for other health problems as well. Research has shown that leaving your hearing loss untreated can increase your risk of falls.
Hearing Loss Increases Fall Risk
A study published in 2012 looked at health data from adults aged 40–69 to see if there was an association between hearing loss and falls. Researchers found that even mild hearing loss can triple a person’s risk of an accidental fall.
The study also determined that the more severe a person’s hearing loss was, the greater the risk of falls. The risk for falls increased by 140% for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss.
How Hearing Loss Affects Balance
The hearing and balance systems in our body are closely intertwined. They even share a pathway in the brain known as the vestibulocochlear nerve. Damage that causes hearing loss may also impair your balance.
Additionally, hearing loss can impair your situational awareness and shift more mental resources towards trying to hear, leaving fewer for balance.
Falls Can Be Especially Dangerous For Older Adults
Hearing loss becomes more common with age, which means that older adults are at a higher risk of falls due to hearing problems. This can be especially dangerous since older adults are also more likely to have fragile bones and/or conditions like osteoporosis, which increases the likelihood of severe injury from a fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 300,000 older adults are hospitalized with hip fractures each year, and 95% of hip fractures are caused by a fall.
Treat Hearing Loss To Help Your Balance
If you’ve noticed that you’re asking people to repeat themselves more frequently or struggling to follow along during phone calls or work meetings, schedule an appointment with an audiologist. They can perform a full exam complete with a hearing test to detect any hearing loss and determine the best treatment options. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment for hearing loss, and research has shown that hearing aid use was associated with a lower risk of falls in older adults.
Improving your ability to hear and, in doing so, potentially lowering your risk of falls can benefit your life in so many ways. It makes it possible to stay connected to others and feel confident in your ability to participate in physical activities like walks through Greenough Park.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to check your hearing, call Western Montana Hearing and Speech today.