Balance in Older Adults May Improve with Hearing Aid Use

A small study published in the well-respected journal Laryngoscope suggests that older people with hearing loss may have better balance when they use their hearing aids.  This supports the idea that treating hearing loss may help decrease the risk of falls.

In this study 14 adults (aged 65 and up) were given standard balance tests both with and without their hearing aids on. Patients performed better on the balance tests with their hearing aids on.  This is the first study to demonstrate that sound information contributes to maintaining the body’s stability, and suggests that use of amplification may reduce the risks of falls in older people.

Lead researcher Dr. Timothy Hullar believes that not only do the hearing aids increase alertness, but the participants were using the sounds coming through their hearing aids as auditory landmarks to help maintain balance.
 

Judy Rasin

We know that people sway more when they try to balance in a darkened room. Our eyes help to orient us in space. The more information we take in through our hearing and vision senses, the better able we are to keep balanced.

Dr. Hullar notes that the results are statistically significant even though there were not many people in the study.  He plans to replicate the study with a larger group of people. Meanwhile, we think these results are exciting. Reducing the risk of falls while at the same time enhancing communication ability is a win-win benefit. 

Judy Rasin is a licensed New York State Audiologist and hearing aid dispenser at The Hearing Center at Pelham. You can contact Judy at (718) 822-4100 or visit their website