Hearing Loss and the Increased Risk of Falls
One of our roles as audiologists is
to help our patients better connect and communicate with the world around them.
We care deeply about our patients and treating their auditory system so they
can lead better lives. Our responsibility includes educating patients about the
benefits of treatment, as well as the risks of leaving them untreated.
For the elderly in particular, one
such risk involves the increased chance of falls due to hearing loss.
Facts
on falling
People 65 or older commonly fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one out of four older adults falls each year. These falls often result in emergency room visits, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, hospitalizations or even death. In fact, death rates for the elderly from falling increased 30 percent from 2007 to 2016. In addition, falls total more than $50 billion each year in medical costs.
Falling also creates a heavy emotional burden for the elderly. They fear falling because of the risk of injury, but also because of embarrassment and the desire to remain independent. They might limit excursions and social activities because of this fear, which results in physical decline and social isolation.
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Hearing loss is one of several
factors causing falls. Even a mild degree of
hearing loss triples the risk of an...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Zhanneta Shapiro Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider audiologist balance Hearing Aids hearing loss Source Type: blogs
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