Hearing loss is associated with various health concerns, including tinnitus, depression, anxiety, falls, increased hospitalizations, and cardiovascular disease. (Bostwick, n.d.)

Recent studies have also explored the role hearing may play in maintaining balance. (Bostwick, n.d.) But why could hearing better help us maintain better balance?

Balance Is a Team Effort

Maintaining balance involves several systems working together, as described by Bostwick (n.d.): the vestibular system, located in the inner ear; the visual system, or our eyesight; the somatosensory system, which provides information about sensations and the position of our body.

The brain acts like a conductor, bringing together and interpreting information from these different systems. This process is essential to our safety and helps us interact with our surroundings. (Bostwick, n.d.)

What Role Does Hearing Play?

Some researchers have suggested that hearing may also play a role in maintaining balance. (Bostwick, n.d.)

The auditory and vestibular systems are closely connected. Both are located in the inner ear and share anatomical and physiological characteristics. In fact, some disorders of the inner ear can affect both hearing and balance. (Bostwick, n.d.)

Sounds Help Us Navigate Our Surroundings

Our auditory system helps us create a three-dimensional representation of our sound environment. Hearing can influence our posture, while our posture can also affect our ability to locate sounds. (Bostwick, n.d.)

Sound localization plays an important role in everyday life. For example, it helps us determine where a person is speaking from so we can turn toward them and communicate more easily.

It also contributes to our safety. Being able to identify where a car horn is coming from, for instance, can help us react to a potential danger.

Our auditory system uses information from the brain and both ears to analyze the sounds around us. This information may also contribute to posture and balance. (Bostwick, n.d.)

Could Hearing Aids Help?

Studies have shown an association between hearing loss and a higher risk of falls in older adults. (Bostwick, n.d.)

Bostwick (n.d) also suggests that hearing amplification, such as hearing aids, could be one approach to improving balance in people with hearing loss. More research is needed to better understand this connection.

Taking Care of Your Hearing

As our understanding of the connection between hearing and balance continues to grow, taking care of our hearing remains an important part of supporting communication, safety, and overall health.

Hearing may also play a role in helping us maintain good balance.

Source

Adapted from Bostwick, E. (n.d.). Hearing aids. Vestibular Disorders Association.