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Those who have hearing loss may be at a larger risk of getting into accidents whether they are at home or at work, according to a recent investigation. Published in March, the study looked at data stretching back seven years from the National Interview survey between 2007 and 2015. The data looked at the source of accidental injuries among a representative section of the population.
The results found that accidents doubled in those who had hearing issues, with an increase in reporting of accidental injuries rising from two to five percent when the respondent had hearing problems.
The accidents were broken down into the categories of leisure, driving or work related. The highest disparity between accidents in those who have good hearing with those who do not came in the leisure category. So, it appears that those with hearing loss are likelier to have an accident when playing sports or anything else they do for fun.
Why does this category show the highest increase? One researcher suggested that people who are at work are more likely to be aware of potential areas of danger and are thus more careful as a result.
The big surprise in the results was that those who had only mild hearing loss were far more likely to get into accidents across all categories than those who are deaf or have severe hearing loss. This suggests that those with a mild hearing loss are underestimating the severity of their condition, compared to those who have fully come to terms with their hearing loss and are taking the proper precautions at work.
Although researchers are aware of the problems associated with self-reported data, they are confident that the study’s longitudinal data was enough to establish a link between hearing loss and accidental injury.
Balance
But why are people with hearing loss more likely to get into accidents? The answer might lie in your balance. A recent Harvard study by Jeffrey Holt found a protein in the ear which turns sound and head motions into electronic signals. These are used by the brain in the maintenance of hearing and balance. When this protein is mutated (as often happens when hearing loss is present), it can inhibit the ability of the ear to receive enough to maintain a healthy balance, which can lead to falls.
Although hearing loss doesn’t automatically mean that people are more likely to lose their balance, it usually works in tandem with a pre-existing lack of balance to make people more likely to suffer a fall. The ear’s vestibular system works with other systems in your body to ensure your balance is maintained.
There have been other links discovered between balance and hearing loss. A study by the National Institute on Aging found those with mild hearing loss were three times more likely to have an accidental fall than those with normal hearing. The most striking statistic is that for every 10db of hearing loss, the likelihood of falling jumps by 1.4%. The conclusion from the study was that straining to hear others was cognitively demanding, which meant fewer resources devoted to maintaining balance. Something like a hearing aid would help greatly in this instance, easing the cognitive load.
The study has obvious implications for older adults, who may already have a pre-existing propensity to have accidents caused by a lack of balance. But the study might also say something about the way we see hearing loss in general.
“There’s a lot being said about hearing loss, probably everybody knows about it, but it may not be enough, because still, there are people who are out there who have hearing difficulty, and they’re not being evaluated properly. And there’s a second study with it that shows hearing loss can increase the risk of injuries.”
He goes on to argue that we need more awareness of hearing loss among the healthcare profession, as well as among people themselves:
“I think there’s more room for improvement with respect to increasing awareness among the public and also among the doctors that hearing loss needs to be taken more seriously.”
One third of all respondents, whether they had hearing loss of not, have never had their hearing checked. People might be living with hearing loss that is greater than they realize. With this connection between hearing loss and balance becoming stronger with each study published, it is vital that federal governments give hearing loss the time and respect it deserves.
But we as individuals also need to become empowered about our own hearing loss. With the wealth of knowledge and services out there, the onus is also on us to get our hearing checked and if necessary, have hearing aids fitted. Accidents happen, but this study shows that some accidents could be more preventable than others.
Schedule a consultation with New Leaf Hearing Clinic
The thought that you could have undiagnosed hearing loss may be scary, but it needn’t be. Treatment with the right hearing aids can make a world of difference, greatly improving your ability to communicate with others and stay safe in your day-to-day life. To schedule a comprehensive hearing exam, contact New Leaf Hearing Clinic today!