Email from HDI High Definition Impressions

September 2025

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• RISK OF FALLS •

“Educating the mind without educating the heart

is no education at all.”

– Aristotle

Back to school season is an ideal catalyst for kids of all ages to level up lifelong learning. While K-12 curriculum is methodically structured, adult healthcare consumers can elect to examine medical subjects which are personally relevant. In fact, there is a readily accessible array of trustworthy knowledge we all should benefit from. When talented researchers devote careers to publishing evidence-based results in high integrity journals, we should be all ears.

With educational intent, our primary Did You Know? awareness campaign provides keen perspectives about how hearing loss relates to diverse medical conditions. What we care to teach is within your reach.

Remarkably, approximately 50-75% of any group of people, including in your Circle of Life, has or knows someone with one or more of these chronic conditions. As a practical matter, getting In the Know with rigorous scientists and proactively applying their findings improves health outcomes.

For empathetic and therapeutic purposes, we study how hearing loss comorbidities (systemic pairings) vary in nature.

Some like…

Diabetes, raises the probability of having hearing loss.
Dementia, may increase risks and severity due to hearing challenges.
Vision Loss, are dual impact, due to sensory deprivation.
Ototoxicity or, as it translates, medication-induced “ear poison,” may harm auditory acuities.

This month’s Did You Know? assignment encourages us to discover how hearing loss relates to the…

Shall we do our homework?

As shown, compared to individuals with normal hearing, research indicates those with moderate or greater hearing impairment (HI) have measurably greater risks of falling.

This essential study also explored how hearing loss may be associated with frailty, defined as:

Formally, “a clinical syndrome in older adults characterized by decreased physiologic reserve and weakness that causes an increased vulnerability to stressors.”
In more plain language, a condition of feeling weak and delicate.

The well-respected authors stated:

“As the U.S. population ages, this syndrome will become increasingly prevalent, and therefore, identifying other potentially modifiable risk factors for frailty is important.”

Given these imperatives, one noteworthy conclusion about Hearing Impairment (HI):

“Our results demonstrate that moderate-or-greater HI, as measured by objective audiometric testing, is associated with an increased risk of developing frailty in high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults, independent of age, demographic characteristics, and cardiovascular risk factors. Compared with those with normal hearing, older adults with moderate-or-greater HI had a 63% increased risk of frailty.”

Click to review research article

To wit, evidence suggests hearing loss (impairment) may raise risks of Falls AND Frailty. In this context, our prior E-Newsletters on the Risk of Falls explained how they often cause hip fractures.

A visualized chain reaction sequence to reference:

Potential mechanisms by which hearing loss might increase risks of Frailty & Falls include:

⚠️ Shared systemic pathways with, for example, the vestibular or inner ear balance system

⚠️ Decreased awareness of the auditory environment, minimizing sensory cues in everyday surroundings

⚠️ Attentional resources, when the brain works harder to hear, it has less capacity to maintain postural balance

Is the steady or safe position someone holds their body in when standing, walking, sitting, or physically reacting. Keeping personal safety top of mind, these daily situations are…

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To aid in reducing risksof Falls & Frailty, best hearing is a wise choice. For reasons of medical necessity, you and your loved ones should periodically get professional hearing tests and evidence-based balance evaluations. With valuable experience teaching us well, we realize optimizing auditory acuities will help you manage activities of daily living more safely.

While we take your hearing care seriously, a little laughter goes a long way.

Good Humor, Healthy Hearing

As you reflect on the vital information we’ve shared, be smart, take it to heart, and schedule an appointment asap. On life’s playground, be Happy to Hear!

🎧 Tune In to Our Podcast!

We’re excited to share our podcast, where we dive into the latest in hearing health, patient stories, and tips for better hearing.

👉 Stay In the Loop with the Latest in Hearing Health

Visit Our Podcast Episode Page

VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION

Exciting news! Focus Hearing has expanded, and we're thrilled to announce our new location. New office, same exceptional hearing care!

7500 W. 160th St, Ste 103

Stilwell, KS 66085

(913) 600-4619

Our Patients Say It Best

“These guys are great. Personable, attentive - great follow-up to ask how things are going. "Always here to help" seems to be their motto. A friend of mine had trouble getting an appointment with his long-time audiologist. I suggested he go to Focus, and he got an appointment immediately and within days was completely satisfied with the service and professionalism.”

— Patrick M.