 Hearing loss doesn’t simply affect your communication skills with others; it can also threaten your safety. Falling happens with hearing loss, and that increases the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI will dramatically change or end your life, so you should know the risks and how to prevent dangerous falls.
The connection between Falling and Hearing Loss Immediate physical damage can happen with falls, but there can also be marked trauma to the brain. The traumatic injury may occur even if there are no symptoms or the fall seems innocuous. Roughly 90 percent of TBI victims never even lose consciousness. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, patients with untreated hearing loss are three times more likely to fall. When a person’s hearing loss is more advanced, the risk of falls increases. With hearing loss, a person may have less awareness of their environment. Simultaneously, there is more strain on the brain as listening requires more concentration, which can create fatigue. Hearing loss, therefore, can impact balance and walking abilities. The cognitive load allows for lesser resources to control these factors. When balance and walking are affected, there is a greater risk of falling, especially in older adults. The benefit of Hearing Aids These devices not only add value to your social life, but they also help you become more in tune with your environment. Conversely, cognitive overload lessens with better hearing, which leads to less falling. When hearing aids can detect sounds and the direction that they emanate from, users are less likely to bump into something or trip. In addition, it’s not just alertness that’s increased with hearing aids. According to a study at the Washington University School of Medicine, a person’s balance also shows improvement. Participants with hearing aids fared much better than ones without them. Findings indicate that participants who wore hearing aids were better at using sound information as auditory reference points to maintain balance, the same way that non-hearing impaired people use visual cues. Prevent Falls by Improving Hearing TBI is devastating. Prevent falls that may lead to TBI by getting regular hearing tests and taking corrective action if needed. Let’s face it, it is not only good to have better hearing, but it is also good to have proper balance and awareness. Reduce cognitive load, hear better, and have more stability with hearing aids if you have difficulty hearing. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist today. Comments are closed.
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