 Studies have shown that people with hearing loss are more likely to have an unexpected injury while on the job, or during recreational activities.
The research utilized information from the National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted between 2007 and 2015, to evaluate accidental injuries in adults. There were 2.8 percent of adults who reported accidental injuries over three months. The risks of these types of injuries were two times more likely among those who had difficulty with their hearing. The results of the study indicated that hearing loss affects approximately 16 percent of Americans. Safety and its Link to Hearing Loss Hossein Mahboubi, the co-author, and member of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of California, Irvine, concluded that the study confirms the relationship between hearing difficulties and accidental injuries. For example, if you don’t have good hearing abilities and you’re engaging in a sport like biking, a driver may honk their car horn, and you might not hear it. At that moment, you are at a very high risk of becoming injured. The survey showed that approximately 16 percent of adults claimed that their hearing health ranged between “excellent” to “deaf”. It indicated that the rate of accidental injury surged from 2 percent for individuals who had excellent hearing to approximately 5 percent in those who experienced difficulties with their hearing. Injuries were categorized under driving, leisure or work-related. Leisure injuries rose from 0.8 percent in those who had excellent hearing to 1.4 percent in adults who were deaf. This implies that individuals who experience moderate to severe hearing loss have a greater chance of injury while engaging in sports or other leisure activities. Interestingly enough, the data also illustrated that people with healthy hearing or little hearing problems were more prone to being injured at work than employees who were deaf or hard of hearing. This may be due to the notion that someone with hearing loss is more attentive to their surroundings, therefore would be less likely to have a harmful accident. Participants who experienced moderate hearing problems were more prone to suffer injuries, whereas those with more severe hearing problems were less likely to suffer from injuries. It’s important to note that this data is subjective because participants reported their own degree of hearing loss and experiences. The evidence is credible enough to demonstrate the link between accidental injury and hearing loss. Additional Studies are Necessary Out of the test subjects who stated that they considered their hearing “less than good or excellent” (meaning they believed that they had only little difficulty with hearing than those who believed that they were deaf) a third of those individuals had never been examined by a physician and did not receive a hearing test. The conclusion was that there was a significant disparity between those who believed that they have a hearing impairment and those who actually got their hearing tested by a professional. An earlier study that utilized survey data from the CDC, revealed that injuries on the job were 1.5 times more likely to happen in adults with hearing loss, and nearly two times more likely to happen in adults who were deaf. This was the only major study that was found. This could be due to a lack of awareness, or due to an inability to express it as a serious health risk. There are many people with hearing loss who are not receiving a proper hearing evaluation. Another study revealed that hearing loss can increase the risk of injuries. There will always be the need for more improvements when it comes to raising public awareness and healthcare providers’ awareness about the importance of addressing hearing loss. Lower Your Risks of Accidental Injuries Be informed about how problems with hearing can be an overall risk to your health. If you believe that you may have some degree of hearing loss, get tested. Getting treatment for your hearing loss will not only help with your overall health, but it can also reduce risks of injuries, falls and social isolation. If you, or a loved one, are in need of a free hearing test, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids to schedule an appointment with us. We offer a variety of hearing aid solutions for a wide range of hearing loss. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. If you need a hearing aid repair, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. One of our staff members will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.
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