Does hearing loss put older adults at increased risk of falls?

Hearing loss is associated with conditions including dementia, depression, anxiety, social impairment and cognitive impairment. But a study by Johns Hopkins University researchers shows that hearing loss can cause another huge and common hazard - falls.

Does hearing loss put older adults at increased risk of falls?

Injuries and injuries caused by falls in the elderly cost billions in medical expenses every year. To determine whether hearing loss and hearing loss are related, Frank Lin, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, looked at data from 2001 to 2012 and the 2004 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a study that has been conducted regularly since 1971. Collected health data on thousands of Americans.
Over the years, Dr. Frank Lin conducted hearing tests on 2,017 subjects aged 40 to 69, and counted whether they had fallen in the past year. The researchers also collected demographic information, including age, gender and race, and examined the subjects' vestibular function to assess the extent of their balance abilities.

Studies have found that people with mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to fall. For every 10 decibels increase in hearing loss, the odds of falling risk increase by 1.4 times. This finding held even when the researchers excluded factors including age, sex, race, cardiovascular disease and vestibular function.

Dr. Lin added that people who are hard of hearing may not have a good awareness of their overall environment, which makes trips and falls more likely. Meanwhile, another reason why hearing loss may increase the risk of falls is cognitive load, where the brain is overwhelmed by the demands on limited resources.

Dr. Lin said: "Gait and balance are things that most people take for granted, but in fact they are very demanding cognitively. If hearing loss increases cognitive load, it may Reduce cognitive resources to help maintain balance and gait.”

If you have hearing loss, to prevent hearing loss from causing further harm to your health, be proactiveintervene.

How to reduce the risk of falls among the elderly?
1. Intervene hearing loss as early as possible
Research from Washington Medical College in the United States found that patients with hearing loss who wear Hearing Aids perform better on the balance test when wearing hearing aids than when they turn off hearing aids.
This study shows that improving hearing through hearing aids (hearing aids or cochlear implants) may reduce the risk of falls in older adults because auditory information serves as a reference point to help maintain balance.

Therefore, it is recommended that the elderly undergo hearing tests every year, detect hearing loss in time and choose hearing aids, which can effectively reduce the risk of falls.

2. Regular exercise, especially strength and flexibility training
Strength training is very important to maintain muscle strength to support the aging body. Yoga and Tai Chi are very suitable exercise programs for the elderly. The pace is slow and the intensity is moderate. Regular exercise can improve balance and flexibility. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone over the age of 65 regularly perform training in these two projects to effectively reduce the risk of falls.

3. Rational use of medications
Check all the medications you take, take them as directed by your doctor, and do not use medications randomly. Some medicines can cause drowsiness or dizziness, especially if taken on an empty stomach or with other medicines. Make sure you know if any medicines you take have any side effects and modify the method or dosage as recommended.
4. Check your vision
Having impairments in your vision and hearing at the same time will put you at greater risk of falling. It is recommended to have your eyesight checked once a year.

5. Clear obstacles at home

Surveys show that half of the elderly’s falls occur at home. Improvements in the home environment can effectively reduce the risk of falls among the elderly. The risk of people falling to the limit. For example, put away obstacles that may affect the elderly's activities, such as soft carpets;Install small lights in areas prone to falls; install handrails where necessary, such as bathrooms and aisles; keep items needed within easy reach to avoid climbing. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death among people over the age of 65. In addition to causing death, falls can cause a wide range of disabilities. Falling can be frightening to anyone who has ever fallen before. This fear can lead to reduced physical activity, leading to an increased risk of future falls. This is a vicious cycle. It is recommended that the elderly take preventive measures and start now to reduce future risks.

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