Hearing Loss and Increased Risk of Falls
One out of every four adults aged 65 years or older fall each year. Many of these falls result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, emergency room visits, and even death. Falls not only create an injury for the victim but also provide a heavy emotional burden for family members of the elderly victim who constantly worry about their well-being.
Could Hearing Loss Be To Blame?
While many different factors contribute to the number of falls that elderly patients experience each year, hearing loss is the most common. Studies have shown that even a mild degree of hearing loss can actually triple a person's risk of accidental falls. The studies also revealed that the risk for a fall increases significantly with every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss that a person has. Therefore, one of the best ways to help reduce an elderly person's risk of falling is to remedy their hearing loss problem.
How Does Hearing Loss Affect A Person's Balance
There are three main ways that hearing loss is believed to affect an elderly person's balance. The first way hearing loss affects a person's balance is due to a general lack of awareness of their environment. When people have hearing loss, they tend not to notice other people, pets, or activities that are going on around them because they can't hear them. This makes them less in tune with warning signs of potential interaction with their environment.
Hearing loss is also thought to decrease spatial awareness. For those who are unaware, this is the ability of a person to gauge where their body is in relation to the objects that are around them. Lastly, lack of hearing is thought to cause a decrease of focus regarding balance and gait as the brain is using more resources to help interpret speech and sounds.
Treating Hearing Loss Can Reduce Your Risk of Falls
As you've discovered, hearing loss is a big factor contributing to a person's fall risk. One of the best things you can do to reduce your chance of falling is to remedy any hearing loss problems you're currently experiencing. When your hearing gets back to normal, you'll be more aware of the environment around you and more comfortable in it.
Call Us Today
If you're currently experiencing hearing loss, it's time to contact a hearing specialist at Beltone Skoric Hearing Aid Center. Our hearing care specialists can provide you with a free audiological exam to determine your specific hearing loss problems. They'll be able to recommend the correct hearing aids to meet your needs so that you can get back to enjoying life.
