Hearing Loss and Mobility – The Connection

People use the five senses in combination to navigate through their daily lives. Each sense has a unique role, which is vital for normal functioning. The partial or complete loss of one sense can cause a series of difficulties, including negatively affecting psychological and physical wellbeing.   

Hearing loss is the partial or total inability to hear, which may impact one or both the ears. Although hearing loss is potentially dangerous, people with hearing loss can lead complete and stress-free lives under the right circumstances and with the right approach.

How the Ear Works

The ear is an important organ, which serves many purposes (not the least of which is receiving and processing sound waves and sending them to the brain). Additionally, the ear hosts the vestibular system; the inner ear contributes to the sense of balance, proprioception, and spatial orientation of the body. Given how essential the ear is to these various functions, a loss of hearing in one or both the ears can be debilitating unless effective methods are used to compensate for the loss. Problems with the ear, including hearing loss, can negatively impact mobility in several ways.  

What Happens if You Don't Treat Hearing Loss?

Apart from physiological functions, the ear plays a practical role in helping a person move through life. For instance, the inability to hear the sounds of oncoming traffic could be dangerous if a person with hearing loss walks alone on the streets of a bustling city. Similarly, the sound of a fire alarm going off is more likely to wake someone up than the lights flashing. Not being able to hear the wail of a fire alarm places a person with hearing loss at a risk in such a scenario. A possible solution to these issues is for a person with a partial hearing loss to use a hearing aid. However, if hearing loss is not treated, someone who can hear should ideally accompany the person with hearing loss. ss.   

Balance is controlled in part by a structure in the inner ear known as the labyrinth. It is composed of tissue and bone and is shaped like a complex maze. The inner ear collaborates with the visual system to orient the body in space and minimize objects appearing blurry when the body is in motion. While it is convenient to assume that issues with hearing may affect balance, the two functions are more or less separate. The cochlea is responsible for hearing and does not play a role in maintaining balance. Thus, problems with the inner ear are more likely to affect balance.  

Popular Solutions

Although hearing loss can deter movement in a number of ways, there are several practical solutions that a person can employ to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life. These solutions include using a hearing aid and having someone around to act as the “ears” in potentially risky environments. The key is taking initiative and experimenting to find out what works best. Contact your audiologist and find out what will work the best for you.