Audiologists evaluate and treat balance disorders?

Did you know that your body’s center of balance is located inside your ears?

Housed deep within your inner ear is the bony labyrinth that contains 2 separate structures: your cochlea which processes sound or auditory stimulation, and the fluid-filled canals that control your sense of balance.

As we age, balance becomes more important because falls are among the highest risk of injury in older populations.

This month we get to hear from Dr. Heather Wibberley with some shocking statistics between balance and our hearing. Spoiler alert- increased risk of falls is just one more negative side effect of untreated hearing loss! When the brain is busy working hard to hear, many other functions of our body are affected, and that includes balance.

Hearing Loss Linked to More Risk of Falls

Research has found that untreated hearing loss impacts our balance and puts us at greater risk for falls. When we walk, we pick up subtle cues from our environment which help us maintain balance. According to research conducted by Dr. Frank Lin at Johns Hopkins University, if we do not hear well our risk for falls increases three-fold. This risk is due to: (1) poor awareness of our overall environment which increases risk for tripping and falling, and (2) increase in cognitive load from hearing loss which overwhelms our brain, giving us fewer cognitive resources to maintain balance.

References:
Casale, J., Browne, T., Murray, I., & Gupta, G. (2018). Physiology, vestibular system.
Houry, D., Florence, C., Baldwin, G., Stevens, J., & McClure, R. (2016). The CDC Injury Center’s response to the growing public health problem of falls among older adults. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 10(1), 74-77.
Lin, F. R., & Ferrucci, L. (2012). Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Archives of internal medicine, 172(4), 369-371.
Kowalewski, V., Patterson, R., Hartos, J., & Bugnariu, N. (2018). Hearing loss contributes to balance difficulties in both younger and older adults. Journal of preventive medicine, 3(2).

PATIENT REVIEWS

" Great doctor who explained everything and did a fantastic exam. Doctor Heather W. Goes the extra mile to ensure she makes my hearing as great as it can be."
Robert

" I can’t say enough good things about my appointment with Dr Nicole Lilly. She was a wealth of information and made my appointment enjoyable as well as comprehensive."
Anna

" My experience with the staff at Broomfield Hearing HealthCare Centers was definitely a five star rating! Dr. Wibberley was very helpful... she's knowledgeable, patient, and personable. And Jennifer at the front desk is really friendly and she went above and beyond to get my insurance straightened out. They are a great team!"
Debbie

" I've been a patient of Hearing Healthcare for many years. I appreciate there customer service and expertise. I recommend them to all my friends that need hearing aids."
Craig

"The doctor explained every step of the evaluation. She also listened to and answered all of our questions and took a proactive approach to ensuring that our hearing aids were updated before the warranty expires."
Nalin"

"Hearing Health Care Centers is always helpful. If I have a problem I can always contact, get a solution or make an appointment. I rely on their helpfulness."
Phyllis