Approximately 15% of U.S. adults report some trouble hearing. Hearing loss impacts many parts of your life, including your safety. We often rely on our ears to convey important safety information we may otherwise miss. Hearing loss can obstruct your ability to perceive these auditory safety cues.
Choosing to begin hearing loss treatment opens you up to benefits, including more accessible communication and improved safety. Let’s take a look at a couple of ways hearing aids can enhance your safety in all parts of your life.
Increased Awareness of Verbal Information
Verbal information is vital in promoting safety. Hearing someone yell “FORE” at the Riverview Country Club tells you to duck or move before being hit by an errant golf ball, and “FIRE” lets you know to move safely to an exit.
Directional microphones in hearing aids locate and amplify important speech sounds to make sure you aren’t missing crucial safety warnings.
Increased Awareness of Alarms
People with hearing loss may have difficulty hearing smoke alarms, doorbells, burglary alarms, sirens, telephones and more. Missing these critical alarm cues can leave you unaware of emergencies and decrease your overall safety.
Knowledge of background noise is especially important when you navigate the world outside your home. Wearing hearing aids, even when alone, can help you pick up on significant background noise, like tires squealing while driving or a dog barking at the park.
Improved Balance
People with hearing loss of at least 25 decibels were found to be nearly three times more likely to have a history of falls compared to those without hearing loss. There are multiple hypotheses for the association of hearing loss and poor balance, including:
- Simultaneous dysfunction of the hearing (cochlear) and balance (vestibular) sense organs
- Limited access to auditory cues for environmental awareness
- Increased cognitive load from hearing loss, causing reduced resources for stability and balance
Hearing aids can help decrease the cognitive load of hearing loss and provide access to the necessary auditory cues for improved balance and environmental awareness.
Beginning treatment for your hearing loss can improve communication with your friends and family and increase your overall safety and awareness. For more information on the benefits of hearing aids, contact Audiology Associates of Redding today to make an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.