Hearing loss is a common challenge for older individuals, but does it warrant quitting driving? The response isn’t clear-cut, as driving habits differ among individuals.
Even if some adjustments have to be made to the radio volume, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a competent driver needs to quit driving.
Whether hearing loss presents a risk while driving is a critical consideration for those planning regular commutes or winter road trips. Is your driving becoming dangerous because of hearing loss?
Think beyond driving…
If you are detecting hearing loss, it won’t have a significant impact on your driving ability…yet. That day is coming, though, if you choose to simply ignore your decline.
There is a solid link between hearing health and brain health, as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Struggling to hear forces your brain to use valuable resources just to comprehend what individuals are saying. It has a detrimental impact on cognition and can contribute to the onset of dementia. Driving is definitely out of the question for someone with dementia.
If you have hearing loss, can you still drive?
You can still drive with hearing loss, but it should be mentioned that safe driving demands strong observational skills and this includes auditory awareness. The Center for Hearing and Communication reports that about 48 million Americans have significant hearing loss, and a good number of them still drive.
Tips for driving if you have hearing loss
You can still be a safe driver if you make some adjustments and follow these guidelines.
Stop putting off
Visit us, get a hearing test, and consider how hearing aids can change things for you. The question of whether you should be driving can be removed by using hearing aids.
When you drive, be more aware
You will still need to be aware of what’s happening around your vehicle even if you use hearing aids.
Don’t let it get too noisy in your car
This will help you be less distracted. Ask your passengers to talk more quietly and keep the radio down or off.
Keep an eye on your dash lights
It’s the little things that will add up when you drive with hearing loss. You might not be able to hear that clicking noise that your turn signal makes, for example. So regularly check your dashboard because your eyes will have to pick up the slack.
Keep your vehicle well maintained
Perhaps your car is making a weird noise in the engine but you can’t hear it. That is a major safety hazard, so make a point of getting your car serviced regularly. For individuals with hearing loss, this is important, even more so than it would be for someone without hearing loss.
Pay attention to other vehicles around you
Of course, you would do that anyway, but you want to look for signs you may be missing something. If you see other cars pulling off the road, you should do that also because you may have missed the sirens. Use the behavior of other drivers to get some visual hints about traffic patterns around you.
Can you drive when you have hearing loss? That’s up to you. It is possible to be a good driver even if your hearing is not what it once was because most likely your other senses will help you make the adjustment. But if you’re feeling worried about it, make an appointment to come see if we can help you improve your situation, possibly by using hearing aids.
Come in and let us help you better your quality of life by looking at the hearing solutions that will be suited to your unique hearing situation.
References
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
http://chchearing.org/facts-about-hearing-loss
