Millions of Americans live with some degree of hearing loss. If this is your case, you’ve probably noticed that you have difficulties following conversations or navigating in a crowded environment. But do you also find yourself losing coordination or feeling dizzy? This form of vertigo or loss of balance could be linked to hearing loss. So, the important question to ask your hearing instrument specialist (HIS) is whether loss of balance can be treated.
The Correlation Between Hearing Loss & Balance
According to studies by John Hopkins Medicine and the National Institute of Aging, people with mild hearing loss are up to three times more likely to lose their balance and fall than those with normal hearing health. Does this mean that your hearing system is responsible for your balance?
The answer is a little more complex than a simple yes or no. Information about your balance is collected in the inner ear by the vestibular system. Therefore, hearing loss could affect your balance if it damages the vestibular system in the inner ear.
The Inner Ear at Work
To fully understand how your inner ear supports your balance, it is important to understand how the vestibular system works. The vestibular system consists of three canals and two pockets, which are filled with fluid. Together, they collect information about the position of the head by monitoring how the fluid moves in the canals. The pockets focus on detecting backward and forwards and straight up and down motions. The vestibular system then passes on the collected information to the cerebellum in the brain.
The Cerebellum and Balance
The cerebellum sits at the back of your head, at the point where the brain and the spine meet. It receives information from the vestibular system, but it also collects visual and physical information from the eyes and muscles. The cerebellum determines how the body is positioned within your surrounding environment. It combines all signals to help keep the body upright and adjust the posture continually.
The Cerebellum’s Signals
The cerebellum collects signals from your eyes and muscles. An individual experiencing partial vision loss or with untreated vision impairment could also have balance problems. The eyes could be sending inaccurate signals, which would affect the way the cerebellum works to maintain balance.
Muscles and Balance
Falling or feeling unsure on your feet could also be linked to a muscle-related condition. This is especially common for seniors who are prone to experience muscle mass loss. As the body loses muscles, they can find it more challenging to stay upright and maintain their balance.
This specific situation is not necessarily related to hearing loss. However, untreated hearing linked to old age can make it more difficult to keep balance and movement coordination.
Hearing Loss Affecting Balance
If you are already experiencing some level of hearing loss, the damage to your ear could have extended to the vestibular system. As a result, you may find yourself less steady on your feet.
Another important thing to remember is that good hearing plays a crucial role in spatial orientation and awareness.
People rely on their hearing to perceive their surroundings and navigate safely through them. For example, if you can’t hear cars coming toward you, you are more likely to get startled when they suddenly seem to appear out of nowhere next to you. Being startled could make you lose your balance.
Consequently, people with untreated hearing loss often choose to stay within a known environment, at home, as they feel unsafe navigating in new settings without audio cues. In the long term, this can also lead to mobility and muscle loss, which can aggravate balance issues.
Treating Hearing Loss to Protect Your Balance
If you notice problems with your balance and hearing, we strongly recommend visiting us at Better Hearing of Madison County, where a hearing instrument specialist can help. Indeed, a HIS can ensure you can treat hearing loss with hearing devices that can make you feel more confident in a variety of environments.
Wearing hearing aids can re-establish your ability to move freely in new environments without getting startled by moving objects you didn’t hear. It is essential to regain the confidence to move around to preserve your balance. Moving ensures you can maintain social connections, so further hearing loss issues will not go unnoticed.
It also plays a big part in preventing mobility loss through muscle degeneration. Finally, reaching out to a HIS can also allow you to take better care of your health, as you can confidently communicate with different specialists about the issues that could be affecting your balance.
Protect your balance now by making an appointment with a HIS at (315) 693-3637 and find out how Better Hearing of Madison County can help you.
