We rely on our sense of balance every day—not just when standing on one foot in a SALT Yoga class or trying to stay upright on a muddy walk, but also during simple movements like getting up from the couch or walking to the bedroom. Many factors can affect balance, and one you may not expect is hearing loss.
How Does Hearing Loss Affect Balance?
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies with more than 5 million participants found that people with hearing loss had 51% higher cross-sectional odds and 17% higher longitudinal risk of falls than those without hearing loss. A previous 2012 study stated a few possible reasons for the connection between falls and poorer balance:
- When hearing loss makes the brain work harder, it shrinks the mental bandwidth you have to focus on staying balanced
- Hearing loss limits cues that inform your spatial awareness
- Damage to the inner ear hearing systems may also damage the inner ear balance organs
While hearing loss can increase your fall risk, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself upright and stable.
Limiting Your Fall Risk
Take the following precautions to minimize your risk of falls:
- Wear hearing aids. Hearing aids can’t heal damage to the balance organs, but they can decrease your mental load and alert you to important background sounds, like your dog barking at your heels, to improve your spatial awareness.
- Look around. When hearing loss limits the amount of information your ears can take in, your vision becomes even more important for maintaining balance and staying aware of your surroundings. Look ahead, check your periphery and stay aware of obstacles and uneven ground. Avoid looking down at your phone or letting your attention drift.
- Remove hazards. Dangling cords, askew furniture and upturned rugs can all increase your fall risk. Keep your home clean and free of as many hazards as possible.
- Try balance exercises. Balance and strength exercises are vital for preventing falls. If you’re feeling unsteady, our balance specialists can recommend exercises to help strengthen this important skill.
Managing hearing loss and addressing balance issues early are crucial steps in protecting your safety. Contact Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat – Yale Office today to schedule a hearing or balance appointment with one of our trusted specialists.