Exploring the impact of untreated hearing loss on physical well-being
/This post originally appeared on Starkey.com
We’d all love nothing more than to maintain our safety and independence as we grow older, right? But today’s hearing fact proves that things like staying fit, getting our vision checked, or seeing a physician annually—while highly recommended—may not be enough when it comes to supporting our physical well-being into the future. Our hearing health, as the evidence shows, should also be considered.
People who have significant difficulty hearing are twice as likely to have an accidental injury as those who don’t. And perhaps this should come as no surprise, given that untreated hearing loss is also linked to faster decline in physical function and 32% higher hospital readmission rates.
Leaving hearing loss untreated indeed has the potential to impact our physical well-being. But monitoring our hearing health and getting help for our hearing loss sooner rather than later can make a tremendous difference. We’ll tell you how momentarily, but first let’s explore the study behind today’s hearing fact and some of the key findings.
Researchers studied link between hearing difficulty and injury
The study behind today’s hearing fact was designed to answer the question: “Is hearing difficulty associated with the risk of accidental injuries?”
To find out, researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the U.S.-based National Health Interview Survey, spanning eight years.
What they found:
Of the 6.6 million adults who experienced accidental injuries annually during the 8-year timeframe, roughly 1 in 6 felt their hearing was “less than ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.”
The risk of accidental injuries for participants “increased with the degree of self-perceived hearing difficulty.”
The rate of accidental injury “steadily increased from 2.4% in those with excellent hearing to 4.8% in those with a lot of trouble hearing.” In other words, participants who faced “a lot of trouble” hearing were twice as likely to have sustained an accidental injury—today’s hearing fact in a nutshell.
Again, the proof of untreated hearing loss’ impact on healthy aging is in the research.
Now, let’s take a turn for that silver lining—and learn how better hearing can help us maintain our safety and independence into the future.
Better hearing means stronger awareness of our surroundings
When a person has hearing loss, their brain must work a lot harder to help them hear and decipher conversation, leaving “less cognitive resources available” to assist as they navigate through different environments, according to lead UCHealth researcher and audiologist Laura Campos. As a result, they may experience reduced awareness of potential hazards like vehicles, pets, and so on.
Similarly, this cognitive load on the brain can leave less energy available to help with balance and gait, which unfortunately may result in tripping, falling, or worse. In fact, studies prove that untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of falls by 30%. And the more severe the hearing loss is, the more the chances of falling increase.
But with better hearing through hearing aids, we can reduce this strain on the brain and stay aware of our surroundings—even in the presence of background noise—all while maintaining our balance. Truth be told, a recent study showed that wearing hearing aids can reduce our risk of falling by an astounding 50%.
How today’s hearing aids help maintain safety and independence
The latest hearing technology is specifically designed to not only improve our hearing but also maintain ongoing well-being and autonomy through cutting-edge features.
For example, let’s say we’re walking down a bustling street with an ever-changing soundscape of light winds, car engines, barking dogs, a biker ringing their bell, and so on. In the past, hearing aids would have had to work hard to figure out what we do and don’t want to hear, and act accordingly.
Not anymore. Today’s innovative hearing aids are built to give us better situational awareness. This means that whether we’re sitting in one space or moving from one place (or situation) to another, these cutting-edge devices help us maintain our best hearing, awareness, and safety—every step or sit of the way.
The same leading-edge devices also feature sensors that can detect if we fall. So, if we connect them to their companion hearing aid app, the app will automatically send a text message with details on the fall plus a map of our location to the emergency contact of our choice. (No help needed? Simply cancel the alert.) This feature is known as Fall Alert.
Stay on the safe side—contact a hearing care professional
One of the best things about better hearing is that it can help us preserve what is priceless to our every day, from never having to miss a moment with the people we care about to upholding a safe and healthy quality of life.
And guess what? It’s easier than ever to begin the journey to hearing—and living—our best: Simply reach out to a licensed hearing care professional: Type your zip code in here to generate a list of local providers who can test your hearing, consult with you about your options, and even demo the latest hearing aid technology.
Here’s to healthy aging into the future—by taking care of your hearing health.
Whether you need hearing aid repair, hearing aid batteries, or a hearing test, Innovative Hearing is here for you. Make an appointment today.
