The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Balance Issues

It’s nothing something that’s generally known but when it comes to balance issues and hearing loss, they’re often very much connected. They can both impact one another in different ways, which is why it’s important to be wary of this connection, should you be experiencing either.

Balance issues and hearing loss can affect people of all ages, despite the initial assumption that it merely impacts those of a more mature age. Of course, as you get older, your mobility becomes more limited and your hearing naturally declines. However, it’s important to know it can impact anyone.

What Types of Balance Issues are There?

There are a number of balance issues that people can experience and that may be related to your ears directly. By knowing and being aware of these balance disorders, it can help ensure you get help for this balance issue quicker and through the right means. Let’s take a look at just a couple of balance issue examples:

• Meniere’s disease: A rare type of balance disorder that happens within the inner ear. Causes congested ears, disorientation and hearing loss.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): The most common form of vertigo. Occurs through calcium crystalizing in the ear and becoming dislodged in another part of the ear than normal.

How is Hearing Loss Caused?

Hearing loss isn’t just caused by balance disorders. There are a number of reasons for the loss of your hearing. For example, if you’re in a job that involves a lot of loud music, such as playing in a band or assisting in festivals and concerts, this could damage your hearing. An accident that ruptures your eardrum could impact the health of your hearing and what you can currently hear.

Medication can cause side effects of hearing loss, as well as other medical conditions. There is a long list of reasons why you may be experiencing a loss of hearing in general.

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Balance Issues

Balance disorders are linked with your hearing because your ears are a powerful part of the body. In fact, your visual, muscular and balance abilities are all influenced by your ears and when your hearing isn’t at its best, then it can cause a loss of balance. Without getting your hearing checked routinely, or allowing balance disorders to go untreated, you won’t know whether both are linked or not.

What to do if You Suspect Hearing Loss

Leaving any hearing loss or balance disorders untreated will not only cause a lot of frustration but perhaps a lot of emotional and physical strain too. Balance disorders also increase the risk of falling and while it might not seem dangerous, a fall in the wrong place or landing the wrong way could lead to dire consequences.

That’s why it’s important that if you suspect you have hearing loss or a balance disorder, talk with your hearing instrument specialist.

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss can include any of the following:

• Difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
• Pain in the ear.
• Loss of background sounds.
• Lip-reading conversations and asking people to repeat themselves.
• Turning up the television or music louder than normal.
• Social isolation.

Get Advice on Hearing Loss with Sound Choice Hearing

The benefit of hearing instrument specialists is that they can resolve the worries and confusion you may have surrounding this sudden change in your health. Booking an appointment to get your hearing checked is something you should be doing every year, just like all of your other medical appointments.

If you suspect that you may have hearing loss or a balance issue that’s linked to your hearing loss, then get in touch with Sound Choice Hearing. They have a range of hearing instrument specialists who are all able to test your hearing and find a solution to this issue.

Depending on the results, they can then find the ideal resolution. This might be hearing aids to help with amplifying sounds or referring you for further testing and examination with other healthcare professionals. Get in touch with Sound Choice Hearing today at (505) 565-7960 for more information and guidance on how your balance issues may be linked to hearing loss.