If you treat hearing loss, you can lower the risk of falls

Have you noticed that you (if you are older) or your mother, father or gran has become unstable on their feet, this can be caused by hearing loss? Falling is always a concern especially if it starts to become an occurring issue. Falls are some of the most frequent injuries suffered by older adults.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide. There are somewhat 3 million falls, which are severe enough to require medical attention each year. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. And adults older than 60 years suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.

Hearing loss can make you fall

Untreated hearing loss can play a role and increase the risk of falls, in both older and younger adults. In fact, researchers found that people with mild hearing loss were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling! This is rather scary, and we encourage you to get your hearing checked out at least once a year, just to stay on top of your hearing health.

Experts have many theories for why this hearing loss can increase the risk of falling, which are:

• Hearing loss harms your awareness, which makes tripping and falling more likely.
• The brain’s “cognitive load” is shifted with hearing loss, which means that the more your brain needs to spend energy on one thing, the less energy it has for other things such as maintaining your balance and posture, which are both demanding.
• Hearing loss can influence your vestibular system, a part of the inner ear which is key to balance and body position.

Treating hearing loss can help lower the risk of falls

There is always a bit of good news somewhere! Enhancing your hearing appears to improve balance in older adults with hearing loss. Which means, you need to have regular hearing check-ups. And, more recently, a 2019 clinical investigation concluded that hearing aid usage is associated with lower risk of falls in older adults with hearing loss.

There is one obvious way to enhance hearing loss and that is with hearing aids. Falls are not only common and potentially dangerous, but they can also rob you of your independence and be a huge source of grief and worry for your loved ones. If you get the correct hearing aids or hearing treatment, you can remain independent, and your loved ones will worry less about you.

About Strauss Audiology
Strauss Audiology is a professional audiology business in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, offering expert, effective hearing advice that is tailored to clients’ unique hearing needs. We conduct hearing evaluations, hearing tests and vertigo assessments, and provide a range of solutions to improve and protect clients’ hearing. This includes providing hearing aids to Cape Town clients. With 16 years of experience, and with the qualifications and certifications to deliver leading hearing care, you can trust us to take care of your hearing needs.