Bowie, MD 301-860-1124 | Southern Maryland 410-535-0024 | Waldorf, MD 410-535-0024
In basic English: if you strengthen your hearing, your memory and balance will improve, and your risk of falling will lower as a result. Sounds easy enough, right?

The Unlikely Connection Between Auditory Function and Fall Risk

by | Jul 19, 2024 | Hearing Loss

It’s no surprise that hearing loss challenges can be linked to other parts of the body. Your ears play vital parts in far more than just letting you hear the music on the radio or your family around the dinner table! 

Recently, I came across a study that showed exactly how untreated hearing loss challenges are linked to an increased fall risk.  

Falls are a significant cause of injury, hospitalization, and death among older adults; according to the CDC, falls are responsible for over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. 

Recent research suggests that there could be a way to help reduce that fall risk for older adults—through improvement of cognitive, vestibular, and auditory functions.  

In basic English: if you strengthen your hearing, your memory and balance will improve, and your risk of falling will lower as a result. Sounds easy enough, right? 

The study, taken on by Joseph Sakamura, AuD, and Richard Gans, PhD, was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. Their study involved 599 adults between 18 and 89 years old and examined the relationship between cognitive, vestibular, and auditory functions and fall risk. 

The study shares how falls are a major health concern for older adults and cites another study (Viljanen et al. 2009; Lin & Ferrucci 2012; Tin-Lok Jian, Li, & Agarwal, 2016) that came to a related conclusion: “Risk of falling 3x higher in patients with hearing loss compared to those with normal hearing.” 

By improving your auditory function, not only can you lessen your fall risk, but you’ll also improve your memory and your balance, which will directly reduce your fall risk as well. By staying steady on your feet and retaining muscle memory to go down stairs, you won’t fall down them as frequently. 

Their study involved 599 adults between 18 and 89 years old

How Jacobs Audiology Can Help You 

The best way to improve your auditory function is to get yourself a comprehensive hearing assessment. Even just one hearing test can help you get a better understanding of your current levels of hearing and what you need to do to improve them. 

Our hearing assessments allow both you and us to see what could’ve caused your hearing loss and balance challenges, and how we can help you alleviate them to get back to hearing the life you love and staying steady on your feet. 

We’re happy to help you, every step of the way. 

For more information, or to talk to a professional about your hearing concerns, please feel free to request a callback. Alternatively, you can find your closest location and call us in: 

Bowie, MD (301) 860-1124
Southern Maryland (410) 535-0024
Waldorf, MD (410) 535-0024 

REQUEST A CALLBACK

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Marcie Jacobs, M.A., F-AAA

Marcie Jacobs has extensive experience in the field of Audiology. She became an audiologist over 25 years ago and has practiced in Southern Maryland and Prince Georges County. Jacobs Audiology was founded in 2011 with the philosophy of providing superior hearing health care for their patients. Her unique combination of empathy and energy result in excellent patient care. Marcie Jacobs obtained her Master of Science degree in Audiology from the University of Maryland in 1991.

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