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Hearing loss increases the risk of accidental injuries

Posted by Joel Silverman, HAD, BC-HIS & President on April 02, 2020

An analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey found that, over an eight year period (2007 – 2015), people who reported that they had “a lot of trouble” hearing ended up being twice as likely to have an accidental injury — both at work and leisure — as people who reported no trouble hearing.

While the study didn’t dig into what it was about hearing loss that led to these higher numbers, experts suspect the effects of sensory impairment played a role. Falls, too, which happen more frequently to people with hearing loss, certainly contribute to the increase.

Why does this matter? Because according to the National Health Report by the CDC, accidental injuries are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the U.S.

But maybe a bigger “why it matters” is that if you have hearing loss and are wondering if you should treat it or not, this is one more fact to add to the “treat it!” side of your list.