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Lance Nelson, AuD, CCC-A
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May 20, 2024
Falls are a significant cause of hospital visits, injuries, and even death among older adults; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every five falls can cause a serious injury, like broken bones or head damage, and over 800,000 patients a year go to the hospital due to fall injuries.
Recent research suggests that a way to reduce your risk of falling as you age is by improving your cognitive, vestibular, and auditory functions; these three functions could make a vast difference in your overall health.
Cognitive function involves memory and motor skills, while auditory and vestibular functions are both related to your hearing and the inner machinations of your ears. By strengthening these three functions, you can stay steady on your feet and keep your hearing as clear as possible.
One of these studies, taken on by Joseph Sakumura, AuD, and Richard Gans, PhD, found that these functions, when taken care of, can reduce the risk of falling by a large margin.
Sakumura and Gans studied how cognitive, vestibular, and auditory functions are closely related, and how by improving all three functions, you can maintain your balance and keep yourself safe.
A quote from the study caught my eye, and I wanted to share it here:
“Patients with hearing loss should be counseled about the effect of untreated hearing loss on postural stability and the increased fall risk, even in individuals as young as 40 years of age.”
Hearing loss can affect anyone of any age, not just older adults. Without treating that hearing loss, your balance and body could seriously be at risk.
The question is: How do you improve your cognitive, vestibular, and auditory functions?
Thankfully, the answer is simple: professional hearing care.
With the help of trained audiologists, comprehensive hearing assessments and, where needed, prescription hearing aid technology, you can take control of your hearing and your balance in one fell swoop.
It’s a relief to see studies like the one Sakumura and Gans took on circulating more; showing the importance of hearing care on the rest of the body is one of our core missions, and seeing it emphasized more often means more people will see and understand that taking care of their hearing is just as important as taking care of the rest of their body.
How Nelson Audiology Can Help You
If you’re reading this and you’ve noticed some struggles in your hearing—or have found yourself losing your balance more often—then don’t hesitate to come and see us.
No matter what you need, our team of hearing care professionals are here to help. Your hearing and ears are unique; we work with you to find out what kind of hearing care works best for you and your lifestyle.
For questions you’d like answered, or if you’d like some advice on your specific situation, please feel free to request a callback and a member of our team will get in touch.
Don’t want to wait? Call our office at (805) 633-9063.
