If you have ever felt dizzy, or lost your balance, then you may have issues with your hearing. Whatever the cause of your loss of balance it’s a very good idea to get a full health check up, then you can get on with enjoying your life to the fullest. One thing you, and your loved ones, should certainly do is get your hearing checked. The best way to do this is to book an appointment with a good, professional audiologist, like Clarisound. Professional audiologists do more than fit hearing aids, we are experts in hearing and balance.

Hearing aids don’t create balance problems, they solve them. Wearing hearing aids can improve your balance and reduce the risk of falls. When any part of your ear is damaged, or dysfunctions, it can lead to balance problems. Research by The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association found that even mild hearing loss can increase your risk of accidentally falling by up to three times and this risk rises significantly with every additional decibel of hearing loss.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association also found that there are three main theories that can be used to explain why hearing loss can affect your balance;

1. Hearing loss reduces your awareness of your environment so you may not notice other people, things, or activities going on near you.


2. Hearing loss reduces spatial awareness so you may find it difficult to assess how far your body is in relation to objects that surround you.


3. Hearing loss makes your brain try harder to listen, and to interpret speech and utilizes more resources. This leaves fewer resources in your brain for managing balance and stability.

Research conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine, USA, in 2015, found that the balance of the patients with hearing loss who were studied scored higher on standard balance tests when their hearing aids were worn in both ears, and turned on, compared with when the hearing aids were turned off. This seminal study established that sound information, independent of your balance system, contained in the inner ear, contributes to your body's maintenance of balance. So hearing aids do contribute positively to your balance as well as your hearing.

If you, or your loved ones, are losing your balance then this is a warning sign that you may be suffering from hearing loss. The best thing to do is take a FREE online hearing test, by Clarisound, straight away. If you find that you are losing your hearing, and losing your balance, then please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with one of our friendly, professional audiologists at Clarisound. We’ll help you restore your hearing and your balance, and your quality of life!