Hearing Loss And Increased Risk Of Falls

When many people think about the elderly falling, they attribute it to brittle bones. The reality is that hearing loss is a big contributor to falls in the elderly. This is due to its effects on balance and mobility. In fact, mild hearing loss actually triples a senior’s risk of falling due to balance issues. Continue reading to see why hearing can affect a person’s balance. Plus, find out what you can do to protect your hearing and balance.

A Closer Look At Elderly Fall Statistics

The CDC has stated that one out of every four adults over the age of 65 falls each year. These falls can cause many types injuries. These range from slight to fatal depending on the person and their balance. From 2007 to 2016, the death rate for seniors who experienced a fall increased a whopping 30 percent. Unfortunately, older people can fall for many reasons. The most common reason being they have lost their hearing.

How Hearing Loss Affect A Person’s Balance

Hearing loss can affect a person’s balance in three different ways. All these increase their risk of falling. A person with hearing loss is less likely to hear environmental cues around them. These would warn them of an impending issue or danger. For example, they may not be able to hear someone yell ‘watch out’ from behind them. They also may not hear a car horn if they are crossing the street.

Hearing loss can also affect a person’s balance by decreasing their spatial awareness. This is a person’s ability to judge the position of their body in relation to the objects that are around them. Hearing loss can affect the usage of resources in the brain. A person with hearing loss has to try much harder to hear what is going on around them. Because of this, their brain will put more of their resources towards hearing. This pulls brain resources away from other tasks like maintaining balance.

Letting Hearing Loss Go Untreated By A Hearing Care Professional

Hearing care professionals know hearing loss affects a large part of a person’s life. Beyond their balance, hearing loss can affect their relationships and mental health. Hearing loss can cause mental health issues and social isolation. When people have hearing loss don’t see a hearing care team, their health will start to worsen.

This starts with a person withdrawing from their regular activities. This is from embarrassment or frustration that they can’t hear what’s going on. Those experiencing hearing loss will start to isolate themselves. They will spend more time alone and increase their risk of mental health disorders. The most common is dementia. It can also speed up physical decline. All these issues contribute to a higher loss of balance and an increased risk of falling.

Call A Hearing Care Professional Today

If you notice that it’s harder to hear certain sounds, it’s time to talk to one of our hearing care professionals. Our hearing care team will provide you with a free audiological exam. This finds your hearing loss issues and helps you find the right hearing aids for you. Hearing loss doesn’t have to increase your risk of falling. As long as you seek help from a hearing care professional today, you will stay safe.