Untreated hearing loss can increase your risk for other health conditions, including balance problems and falls.
Any Amount of Hearing Loss Can Increase Fall Risk
One study examining data from patients between the ages of 40-69 found that even mild hearing loss can triple a person’s risk of an accidental fall. Not only that, but they found that the risk increased by 140% for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss.
Why This Happens
Our ears play a huge role in both hearing and balance systems. They share a pathway in the brain known as the vestibulocochlear nerve. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is caused by damage to the inner ear. This damage can also cause vestibular issues that disrupt your balance.
Additionally, hearing loss can impair awareness in multiple ways. Firstly, hearing well helps orient you to your surroundings. If you can’t hear as well, you’ll feel disoriented, which may increase your fall risk. Additionally, hearing loss can zap your mental resources because you’re putting so much effort into trying to understand the sounds around you. While you may not think that balance takes a lot of mental effort, it is actually cognitively demanding. Not having those mental resources can also make you more vulnerable.
The Dangers of Falls For Older Individuals
Hearing loss becomes more common with age, and unfortunately, balance issues and potential injuries from falls become a bigger risk for older individuals as well. This is because older people tend to have fragile bones and are prone to more serious injuries when they do fall, such as a broken hip. In fact, falls are one of the leading causes of injury among older adults.
Can Hearing Aids Help Reduce Fall Risk?
A 2019 study found that hearing aid use was associated with a lower risk of falls in older adults. Hearing aids can help reduce the cognitive load on your brain by making it easier to process sounds. It also helps you feel more aware of your surroundings.
Using your hearing aids can make it easier to navigate through any environment, be it the grocery store, during a yoga class or when going for walks at Windy Run Park.
If you have noticed changes in your hearing and/or balance, call ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.