One  of our responsibilities as audiologists is to help our patients better  connect and communicate with the world around them. We are also  responsible to educate patients about the benefits of hearing loss treatment, as well  as the risks of leaving it untreated. 

Facts on falling

People  65 or older are at higher risk of falling. These falls often result in emergency room  visits, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries and hospitalizations.

Falling  also creates a heavy emotional burden for the elderly. They fear  falling because of the risk of injury, but also because of embarrassment  and the desire to remain independent. They might limit excursions and  social activities because of this fear, which results in physical  decline and social isolation.

Hearing loss is one of several factors causing falls. Even a mild degree of hearing loss triple the risk of an accidental fall. As falls in the elderly continue to increase, we need to address and treat every possible contributing factor.

There are three major theories for how hearing loss affects balance.

1)  Hearing  loss makes people less aware of their environment, so they don’t notice  other people, pets or activities going on around them. 

2)  Hearing  loss can decrease spatial awareness, so being able to gauge where their  body is in relation to objects around them gets trickier. 

3)  Hearing  loss causes the brain to use more resources for hearing and  interpreting speech and sound, so fewer resources go toward gait or balance. 

These factors can all make patients with hearing loss more  likely to lose their balance and fall. Unfortunately hearing loss in the elderly, although it is common but often it remains  untreated. Addressing  hearing loss is a critical part of reducing the risk of falls in seniors to help them live independently and longer.