Do you enjoy working out at Contagion Athletics? If you do, and if you have untreated hearing loss, you could be putting yourself at risk. A recent study shows that people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to experience an accidental injury.
About the Study
The purpose of the study, which was published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2018, was to uncover whether hearing difficulty is associated with a risk of accidental injuries.
In order to answer this question, researchers examined data from 232.2 million U.S. adults who responded to the National Health Interview Survey from 2007 to 2015. Respondents answered questions relating to hearing ability as well as history of injury.
Participants ranked their hearing as “excellent,” “good,” “a little trouble,” “moderate trouble,” “a lot of trouble” and “deaf.” They also indicated whether they had experienced an accident in the previous three months.
The researchers found that:
- Those who reported “a little trouble” hearing were 60% more likely to have experienced an injury compared to those with normal hearing.
- Those who reported “moderate trouble” hearing were 70% more likely to have experienced an injury compared to those with normal hearing.
- Those who reported “a lot of trouble” hearing were 90% more likely to have experienced an injury compared to those with normal hearing.
What’s the Reason for This Link?
The researchers presented several hypotheses about why the risk of injury is higher for people with hearing loss:
- If you can’t hear well, you’re more at risk of missing important warning signals.
- If you have asymmetric hearing loss, you’ll have more trouble localizing sounds (identifying where they’re coming from).
- If you have hearing loss, you’re likely to experience listening fatigue, which means your cognitive energy is used trying to hear and understand speech.
The Importance of Seeking Treatment
The study authors assert, “Increased awareness about hearing difficulty and its proper screening and management may assist in decreasing accidental injury.” For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Amarillo Hearing Clinic today.
