Hearing loss can be a painful and difficult condition to live with. In addition to social awkwardness, and an increased risk of accidents (such as trips, falls, or road accidents), hearing loss has also been linked to feelings of isolation, depression, and even a heightened risk of dementia.
But can hearing loss also affect a person’s balance?
The answer to this question is ‘yes’. Hearing loss and balance are very much linked.
Studies demonstrate that people experiencing hearing loss are almost 3 times as likely to have a history of falling down as those who do not experience hearing loss. In fact, the connection is so pronounced that every 10 Decibels of hearing loss experienced by a person increases their risk of losing balance and falling by an estimated 140%.
According to the data, hearing loss reduces environmental awareness, as well as forcing the brain to work harder, which affects concentration. Hearing loss can also directly affect the parts of the inner ear that are responsible for balance.
This may come as a surprise to some, but human ears aren’t used solely for hearing. The inner ear also forms an important part of other bodily systems, including those that govern balance. As it happens, multiple factors contribute to a human being’s ability to balance. These include visual input, joint and nerve muscles, and the vestibular system.
Part of the inner ear, the vestibular system consists of an intricate network of tubes, or semicircular canals (there are 3 in each ear). These canals ‘loop off’ into an area of the inner ear known as the vestibule. The canals contain fluid and hair cells, which they use to detect movement, with each tube having its own specialty. One tube senses side-to-side movements, another detects tilting movements, while the other senses up-and-down motions.
Sensory hair cells activate whenever a person moves their head. The cells are sensitive enough to pick up even very slight movements. This is why, if an aggressive or prolonged movement is made, a person may still experience the effects of that movement for a short while after the motion itself has ceased (e.g. feeling as if you are still moving after you stop spinning around on the spot).
The vestibular nerve, which joins the cochlear nerve (used for hearing), sends a spinning message to the brain, which the brain interprets as motion, even when no such motion is occurring at that time.
If damage to the inner ear occurs, it can easily affect the vestibular system, which in turn will impact a person’s ability to balance, and may thus cause feelings of nausea, dizziness, vertigo, or disequilibrium.
It is important to note, however, that although hearing loss and balance issues are indeed linked, they will not always occur together. It is entirely possible for a person with hearing loss not to experience any problems with their balance, and vice versa.
Fortunately, there are treatments available for people who struggle with both hearing loss and balance issues. These can include hearing aids (which can improve balance issues induced by hearing loss), counselling services, surgically-implanted hearing devices, and various ear cleaning treatments. Other treatments include Vestibular rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), medication, antibiotic treatments (in the case of infections), dietary and lifestyle changes, and even surgery.
Balance issues can be both damaging and disruptive to a person’s life. They are often, though not always, linked to hearing loss. However, a wide range of treatments are available that can help with this difficult and challenging issue.
