Click here for notice regarding IP CapTel transition
Text Size:

HHC Content Hub

Programs › Downloads and Resources › Brief

For Hearing Healthcare Professionals: Improved Balance Reduces Fall Risk

Researchers correlate hearing loss with a heightened risk of falling

A Johns Hopkins researcher studied and validated the connection between hearing loss and falling in middle-aged adults. Another study at Washington University in St. Louis verified the link for adults aged 65-91.1

“The participants appeared to be using the sound information coming through their hearing aids as auditory reference points or landmarks to help maintain balance,” said study author Dr. Timothy Hullar. “It’s a bit like using your eyes to tell where you are in space. If we turn out the lights, people sway a little bit – more than they would if they could see. This study suggests that opening your ears also gives you information about balance.”

Download the brief, For Hearing Healthcare Professionals: Improved Balance Reduces Fall Risk, now to read about how hearing loss and falls are related, how that impacts your patients and what you can do to help.

  1. Julia Evangelou Strait, “Hearing aids may improve balance” Washington University in St. Louis, Dec., 2014

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. Automatic speech recognition software generates captions of what the other party to the call says, and, in certain circumstances, a live communications assistant may be included on the call to make needed corrections and/or add call details. The captions are then sent to the phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. To learn more, visit fcc.gov. Third-party charges may apply: the Hamilton CapTel phone requires high-speed internet access (Wi-Fi capable) and in some cases, may require telephone service. When using Hamilton CapTel on a smartphone or tablet and not on Wi-Fi, a data plan is required. Hamilton CapTel may be used to make 911 calls but may not function the same as traditional 911 services. For more information about the benefits and limitations of Hamilton CapTel and Emergency 911 calling, visit HamiltonCapTel.com/911. Courtesy of Cisco Systems, Inc. Unauthorized use not permitted. “Noah” is a registered trademark of HIMSA II K/S in the USA. Outside the USA, “Noah” is a trademark of HIMSA II K/S. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. Copyright ©2024 Hamilton Relay. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a/ Hamilton Telecommunications.