Does loss of hearing affect balance?
Hearing loss is a debilitating condition that affects more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, but it can also affect much more than just our ability to hear.
When hearing loss occurs, it can set off a chain reaction that may affect other areas of our health. Hearing loss may lead to mental health problems, social isolation, increase the risk of developing dementia and also affects our balance.
If you’re experiencing hearing loss and feel like your balance and coordination aren’t what they used to be, this blog should help to explain the connection between the two and offer insights into potential treatment options available.
The connection between hearing loss and balance disorders
Whilst our sense of hearing and ability to stay upright may seem like two entirely separate functions, they are actually highly connected and many balance problems can begin in the ears.
However, it’s a highly complex process so first, we need to understand how both hearing and balance work as two separate entities.
How our hearing works
Our hearing is more than just what our ears pick up, it’s a complex process which involves various parts of the ear with the inner ear being one of the most important components.
When sound waves enter the ear, they travel through the ear canal into the eardrum. This causes vibrations which are then sent to the tiny bones in the middle ear before they reach the cochlea. The cochlea contains tiny hair cells which convert these vibrations into electrical signals and send them to the brain where they are then interpreted as sound.
How our balance works
The inner ear also has a huge role to play in our ability to balance, as this is where our vestibular system is mainly housed.
Our vestibular system is responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation to help us maintain our balance. It works together with our eyes and muscles to help keep us steady on our feet.
How the two are connected
So, now we know that the cochlea (responsible for hearing) and the vestibular system (responsible for balance) are both a part of our inner ear. The inner ear is only a very small space so naturally, this means that an issue in any one of them can often impact the other.
For example, if something goes wrong in our inner ear such as damage to the tiny hair cells in our cochlea this can lead to hearing loss. This damage in the cochlea can then have a knock-on effect on the vestibular system since they’re both contained in the same space. This can often result in dizziness, unsteadiness or even vertigo, making you feel like the room is spinning around you.
So, can hearing loss affect balance?
Yes, hearing loss can affect our balance. However, it’s important to note that the two don’t exist together all of the time and just because you have a hearing loss this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be unsteady on your feet.
Studies have shown that people with mild hearing loss were almost three times more likely to have a history of falling than those with normal hearing, and for every extra 10 decibels of hearing loss this probability increases by 140%.
So, why do researchers think this is? More research needs to be done, but some theories include:
- Hearing loss reduces our awareness of the environment around us, increasing our risk of tripping over and falling.
- Hearing loss places a greater cognitive load on the brain, meaning that when more mental energy is required to listen and interpret sounds we have less energy available for other tasks like maintaining balance and proper movement.
- As we’ve covered above, hearing loss can directly affect the vestibular system which is responsible for balance and spatial orientation.
Conditions that can affect hearing and balance
There are many conditions that can simultaneously impact both our hearing and balance, and the presence of these conditions can increase the risk of things such as falls, dizziness and hearing loss.
Understanding these conditions is important to recognise and address symptoms early to prevent progression. Some of the most common conditions that can affect both hearing and balance include:
1. Ageing
As we age, it’s common for our senses such as hearing and balance to decline. Age-related hearing loss often comes with gradual damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, which can affect both hearing and balance.
Along with that, our vestibular system can also deteriorate as we grow older which can lead to a greater risk of falls and balance-related issues. We are also more susceptible to developing other health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or neurological diseases that can have an impact on our coordination and balance.
2. Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease is a chronic condition of the inner ear that can cause severe dizziness (vertigo), hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.
It isn’t yet known exactly what causes this condition but it’s thought to be related to abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear, or it may also be caused by genetic factors or environmental triggers.
3. Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder which happens when the labyrinth (a structure in the inner ear) is inflamed. This can often be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, or an injury, and can cause symptoms such as vertigo, headaches, tinnitus and hearing loss.
The labyrinth is responsible for balance so inflammation of this structure can disrupt the normal functioning of the vestibular system, leading to difficulties in maintaining balance and coordination.
4. Vestibular Neuronitis
Similar to labyrinthitis, vestibular neuronitis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which carries balance signals from the inner ear to the brain. It usually results from a viral infection such as a cold and primarily affects balance, causing sudden and severe vertigo.
Vestibular neuronitis doesn’t usually cause hearing loss, but the intense dizziness and loss of balance can be profound.
5. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo, especially in older adults. It happens when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become loose and interfere with the normal fluid movement in the ear canals.
This sends false signals to the brain about the position of your body and can result in brief spells of dizziness and vertigo, triggered by changes in head position. Whilst it doesn’t affect hearing, it can impact our ability to stay steady and balanced.
The main thing to note is that our hearing and balance systems are connected and often work together, so if any of these systems aren’t working properly it can lead to a variety of potential problems which can affect either our hearing, our balance, or both.
Can hearing aids help with balance?
For those with hearing-related balance problems, hearing aids can be a great solution to help maintain balance and alleviate symptoms of vertigo or other balance-related issues.
In the same way that hearing aids can’t cure hearing loss, they also can’t cure balance problems but a 2023 study showed consistent use of hearing aids was associated with a lower risk of falls in older adults.
So, how can hearing aids help with balance problems?
1. Improved spatial awareness
Hearing aids work by amplifying the sounds around us so when we can hear better, we can usually process sounds more accurately. Whether it’s being able to hear the sound of traffic around us or footsteps approaching, this leads to better spatial awareness which allows us to orient ourselves more effectively.
With an improved spatial awareness, we can navigate our environment more easily and safely, naturally reducing the risk of falling or tripping over.
2. Reduced cognitive load
Hearing loss forces the brain to work harder to interpret sounds which causes a greater cognitive load. This can take away from the brain’s ability to focus on other tasks like coordination and balance.
Hearing aids can help to reduce this cognitive load by making sounds clearer and easier to process, freeing up resources that can help to maintain balance and improve overall coordination.
3. Vestibular support
Hearing aids can be especially useful for those with sensorineural hearing loss (resulting from damage to the hair cells within the inner ear) and balance issues because they can help to stabilise the overall function of the ear.
Whilst hearing aids don’t directly correct problems with the vestibular system they help to improve hearing which can promote better balance.
4. Improved confidence and mobility
Hearing loss can often bring with it a lack of confidence, particularly in those who may have experienced an increase in falls due to their balance being off. However, the use of hearing aids can make users feel more confident in their mobility and ability to move around, reducing the fear of falling and leading to more natural and steady movements.
Of course, hearing aids are individual to everyone and whilst they may be beneficial for balance in some cases they may not necessarily be the right cure for you. If you’re experiencing balance issues, it’s important to get an assessment from an audiologist or ENT specialist.
Harley Street Hearing’s highly trained clinical audiologists offer comprehensive balance diagnostic services. We’re highly experienced in working with various balance disorders and can advise on suitable rehabilitation plans. If hearing aids are the right choice for you, we can offer an extensive range from all leading hearing aid manufacturers.
To book an appointment with us, fill in the contact form on this page or call us on 020 7486 1053.
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