Kids have a tendency to fall on a daily basis. Wiping out on your bicycle? That’s typical. Getting tripped up while sprinting across the yard. Also rather normal. Kids are pretty limber so, no big deal. They rebound very easily.
As you get older though, that becomes less and less true. The older you get, the more worrisome a fall can be. In part, that’s because your bones tend to break more easily (and heal more slowly). Older people tend to spend more time on the floor in pain because they have a more difficult time getting back up. As a result, falls are the number one injury-related cause of death in people over 65.
That’s why tools and devices that can decrease falls are always being sought out by healthcare professionals. Hearing aids could be just such a device according to research.
Can hearing loss lead to falls?
In order to understand why hearing aids can help avert falls, it helps to ask a relevant question: does hearing loss make you more likely to fall to begin with? It appears as though the answer may be, yes.
So why does hearing loss increase the risk of a fall for people?
That association isn’t really that intuitive. Hearing loss doesn’t really, after all, impact your ability to see or move. But it turns out there are a few symptoms of hearing loss that do have this kind of direct effect on your ability to move around, and these symptoms can result in an increased danger of having a fall. Here are some of those symptoms:
- Your situational awareness is impaired: When you have untreated hearing loss, you may not be as able to hear that oncoming vehicle, or the dog barking next to you, or the sound of your neighbor’s footsteps. In other words, your situational awareness may be significantly impacted. Can you become clumsy like this as a result of hearing loss? Well, sort of, loss of situational awareness can make daily activities slightly more hazardous. And that means you may be a little bit more likely to accidentally bump into something, and have a tumble.
- Depression: Social isolation and possibly even mental decline can be the outcome of untreated hearing loss. When you’re socially isolated, you may be more likely to spend time at home, where tripping hazards abound, and be less likely to have help nearby.
- Exhaustion: Your brain is working extra hard and you’re always straining when you have neglected hearing loss. Your brain will be constantly exhausted as a consequence. A weary brain is less likely to detect that obstacle in your path, and, as a result, you may wind up tripping and falling over something that an alert brain would have noticed.
- You’re unable to hear high-frequency sounds: When you go into a stadium, you know how even if your eyes are closed, you can detect that you’re in a huge space? Or when you get into a car and you instantly know you’re in a small space? That’s because your ears are utilizing high-pitched sounds to help you “echolocate,” more or less. You will lose the ability to rapidly make those assessments when hearing loss causes you to lose those high-pitched tones. This can bring about disorientation and loss of situational awareness.
- Loss of balance: How is your balance impacted by hearing loss? Well, your general balance depends heavily on your inner ear. So when hearing loss impacts your inner ear, you might find yourself a little more likely to get dizzy, experience vertigo, or have trouble maintaining your balance. As a result of this, you could fall down more frequently.
Part of the connection between hearing loss and falling is also in your age. As you get older, you’re more likely to experience permanent and advancing hearing loss. At the same time, you’re more likely to have a fall. As a result, when you get older, falls are more likely to have severe repercussions.
How can hearing aids help minimize falls?
It seems logical that hearing aids would be part of the remedy when hearing loss is the problem. And new research has confirmed that. Your risk of falling could be decreased by as much as 50% based on one study.
In the past, these numbers (and the relationship between hearing aids and staying on your feet) were a little less clear. That’s partially because people often fail to use their hearing aids. As a consequence, falls among “hearing aid users” were frequently inconclusive. This wasn’t because the hearing aids weren’t working, it was because people weren’t using them.
But this new study took a different (and maybe more accurate) strategy. Those who used their hearing aids frequently were put in a different group than people who used them occasionally.
So why does wearing your hearing aids help you avoid falls? In general, they keep you more vigilant, more focused, and less tired. The added situational awareness doesn’t hurt either. Many hearing aids also include a feature that can alert the authorities and family members if a fall happens. This can mean you get help quicker (this is critical for individuals 65 or older).
Consistently using your hearing aids is the key here.
Prevent falls with new hearing aids
Hearing aids can help you catch up with your friends, enjoy quality moments with your loved ones, and stay connected to everybody who’s important in your life.
They can also help prevent a fall!
If you want to know more about how hearing aids could help you, make an appointment with us today.
