When you’re a youngster, falling is simply a part of life. Wiping out on your bike? Not unusual. Getting tripped up when running across the yard. Also rather typical. Kids are very limber so, no big deal. They don’t typically stay down for long.
As you grow older though, that becomes less and less true. The older you get, the more concerning a fall can be. One reason for this is that bones are more brittle and heal slower when you’re older. Older people tend to spend more time on the floor in pain because they have a more difficult time getting back up. Falling is the leading injury-associated cause of death as a result.
It isn’t surprising, then, that healthcare professionals are always on the hunt for tools and devices that can reduce falls. New research appears to suggest that we may have found one such device: hearing aids.
Can falls be caused by hearing loss
If you want to fully grasp how hearing aids could potentially prevent a fall, you need to ask this relevant question: does hearing loss make you more likely to fall to begin with? In some cases, it seems that the answer is a strong yes.
So the question is, why would the danger of falling be raised by hearing loss?
That association isn’t really that intuitive. Hearing loss doesn’t really, after all, impact your ability to move or see. But it turns out there are certain symptoms of hearing loss that do have this type of direct effect on your ability to move around, and these symptoms can result in an increased danger of falling. Some of those symptoms include:
- Your situational awareness is impaired: When you have neglected hearing loss, you might not be as able to hear that oncoming vehicle, or the dog barking beside you, or the sound of your neighbor’s footsteps. In other words, your situational awareness may be substantially impacted. Can loss of hearing make you clumsy like this? Well, kind of, loss of situational awareness can make daily tasks slightly more dangerous. And that means you might be a little bit more likely to unintentionally stumble into something, and take a fall.
- You can’t hear high-frequency sounds: You know how when you walk into a concert hall, you immediately know that you’re in a spacious venue, even if your eyes are closed? Or how you can instantly tell that you’re in a small space when you get into a vehicle. That’s because your ears are utilizing high-pitched sounds to help you “echolocate,” more or less. You will lose the ability to quickly make those assessments when hearing loss causes you to lose those high-frequency tones. Loss of situational awareness and disorientation can be the consequences.
- Depression: Untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation and depression (along with an increased danger of dementia). When you’re socially separated, you might be more likely to stay at home, where tripping dangers are everywhere, and be less likely to have help close at hand.
- Loss of balance: How is your balance affected by hearing loss? Well, your inner ear is very important to your overall equilibrium. So you may find yourself dizzy, experience vertigo, and lose your balance when hearing loss affects your inner ear. In other words, you have a tendency to fall more often.
- Exhaustion: When you have neglected hearing loss, your ears are continuously straining, and your brain is always working overtime. Your brain will be constantly exhausted as a consequence. An attentive brain will detect and steer clear of obstacles, which will reduce the likelihood of having a fall.
Age is also a consideration with regard to hearing loss-related falls. As you get older, you’re more likely to develop irreversible and progressive hearing loss. That will raise the probability of falling. Consequently, when you get older, falls are more likely to have severe repercussions.
How can the risk of falling be lowered by wearing hearing aids?
If hearing loss is part of the problem, it makes sense that hearing aids should be part of the solution. And this is being confirmed by new research. Your risk of falling could be decreased by as much as 50% according to one study.
In the past, these figures (and the connection between hearing aids and remaining upright) were a bit fuzzier. Partly, that’s because not everyone wears their hearing aids all of the time. As a result, falls among “hearing aid users” were frequently inconclusive. This wasn’t because the hearing aids were malfunctioning, it was because individuals weren’t wearing them.
The method of this study was conducted differently and maybe more effectively. Individuals who wore their hearing aids now and then were separated from people who used them all of the time.
So why does wearing your hearing aids help you prevent falls? Generally speaking, they keep you more vigilant, more concentrated, and less fatigued. It also helps that you have increased spatial awareness. In addition, many hearing aids come with safety features created to activate in the case of a fall. This can mean you get assistance quicker (this is critical for people 65 or older).
Regularly wearing your hearing aids is the key here.
Prevent falls with new hearing aids
Hearing aids can help you reunite with your friends, enjoy quality time with your loved ones, and stay connected to everyone who’s significant in your life.
They can also help you stay on your feet, literally!
Schedule an appointment with us right away if you want to learn more about how your quality of life can be enhanced.
