Falls are one of the most common causes of injury among older adults, and research suggests that hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of falls. Scientists believe the connection may involve several factors, including the additional mental effort required to process sounds, reduced awareness of environmental sounds, and the role auditory information may play in spatial awareness and balance.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies involving more than 5 million participants found that hearing loss was associated with an increased risk of falls.
Because hearing and balance are connected, taking care of your hearing can be one part of a broader approach to healthy aging and fall prevention.
Key Points
Hearing loss and falls are linked: Research suggests that older adults with hearing loss have a higher risk of falling.
Hearing loss and balance may be connected through factors such as increased cognitive load, reduced awareness of environmental sounds, and changes in spatial awareness.
Hearing aids and balance may be connected because hearing aids can improve access to sounds in the surrounding environment, although more research is needed to determine whether they directly prevent falls.
Fall prevention involves more than hearing health. Home safety, vision care, physical activity, medication review, and balance exercises can also help reduce fall risk.
Regular hearing evaluations can help identify hearing loss in older adults and determine whether hearing aids or other treatment options may be appropriate.
Hearing Loss and Fall Risk: What Does the Research Say?
Research has increasingly explored the relationship between hearing loss and fall risks, particularly among older adults.
A 2012 study from Johns Hopkins University found that older adults with hearing loss had a higher risk of reporting falls. The researchers discovered that each additional 10 decibels of hearing loss was associated with a 1.4-fold increase in the odds of reporting a fall.
More recently, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 27 studies involving more than 5 million participants and found that hearing loss was associated with a greater likelihood of falls.
These findings support a relationship between hearing loss and falls, but they do not mean that hearing loss is the only cause of falling. Falls can have many contributing factors, including changes in vision, muscle strength, balance, medications, medical conditions, and hazards in the home.
What Does Hearing Loss Have to Do With Balance?
The connection between hearing loss and balance involves several of the body's sensory systems.
The brain uses information from multiple sources, including vision, the vestibular system in the inner ear, and sensory information from the body, to help maintain balance and understand where you are in your surroundings. When hearing is reduced, the brain has to work harder to process the sounds that remain.
Researchers have proposed that this additional cognitive effort, sometimes called cognitive load, could leave fewer mental resources available for maintaining gait and balance. Reduced access to environmental sounds may also make it more difficult to notice auditory cues that provide information about your surroundings.
It's important to note that hearing loss does not automatically mean that someone has a balance disorder. However, hearing loss and balance problems can occur together, and persistent dizziness, unsteadiness, or repeated falls should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Falls by the Numbers
Falls remain a significant health concern for older adults in the United States. According to the CDC's most recent finalized data on fall deaths among adults age 65 and older:
More than 41,000 adults age 65 and older died from unintentional falls in 2024.
The age-adjusted rate of fall deaths among older adults increased substantially over the past two decades.
Falls remain an important cause of injury and loss of independence among older adults.
The CDC's latest report, based on data from the National Vital Statistics System, examines trends in unintentional fall deaths among adults age 65 and older through 2023.
For broader context, the CDC also reports that more than 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older fall each year, resulting in more than 3 million emergency department visits.
Can Hearing Aids Help With Balance?
If hearing loss affects awareness of your surroundings, improving access to sound may provide additional information that the brain can use when interacting with the environment. This is one reason researchers have investigated the potential relationship between hearing aids and balance.
A 2023 study of 299 adults aged 60 and older with bilateral hearing loss found that hearing-aid users had lower odds of experiencing a fall, with an even stronger association among people who reported consistent hearing aid use. Because the study was cross-sectional, it shows an association rather than proving that hearing aids prevent falls.
A 2025 analysis of the ACHIEVE randomized controlled trial also found that participants who received a hearing intervention that included hearing aids experienced a 27% reduction in the average number of falls over three years compared with those who received health education.
So, can hearing aids prevent falls? Hearing aids can make speech and environmental sounds easier to hear for people with hearing loss, which may help improve awareness of their surroundings.
For people who have been diagnosed with hearing loss, using appropriately fitted hearing aids can be one part of managing their hearing health and staying engaged with their environment. Hearing aids should be considered alongside, not instead of, other fall prevention for seniors strategies.
How Can Older Adults Reduce Their Risk of Falling?
Hearing health is only one part of fall prevention for seniors. Because falls can have many different causes, taking a comprehensive approach can help reduce potential risks at home and during everyday activities.
Some strategies to consider include:
Remove trip hazards: Keep walkways clear of clutter, loose rugs, cords, and other objects that could cause you to trip.
Improve lighting: Make sure hallways, stairs, bathrooms, and other frequently used areas are well lit.
Review medications: Talk with a healthcare professional about medications that may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or other side effects that could affect fall risk.
Maintain strength and balance: Appropriate physical activity and balance exercises can help support mobility and stability as you age.
Have your vision checked: Changes in vision can make it more difficult to identify obstacles and safely navigate your surroundings.
Pay attention to hearing health: Regular hearing evaluations can help identify hearing loss in older adults and determine whether hearing aids or other treatment options may be appropriate.
Discuss repeated falls with a healthcare professional: Frequent falls, dizziness, or new balance problems should be evaluated to help identify possible causes.
When Should You Have Your Hearing Checked?
Hearing loss can develop gradually, so you may not always notice changes in your hearing right away. Difficulty following conversations, frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the television volume, or struggling to hear in noisy environments can all be signs that it may be time for a hearing evaluation.
If you are experiencing repeated falls, balance problems, or difficulty hearing the sounds around you, talk with a healthcare professional about your symptoms. A hearing evaluation can determine whether hearing loss is present and help identify appropriate options for managing it.
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Fall Prevention Awareness Day
Falls Prevention Awareness Week will take place September 21–25, 2026. The annual nationwide observance, led by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and its Falls Free® Initiative, raises awareness about falls prevention and encourages older adults to take steps to reduce their risk of falling.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week is an opportunity to review factors that can affect fall risk, including home safety, physical activity, vision, medications, and hearing health. If you've noticed changes in your hearing or difficulty hearing the sounds around you, consider scheduling a hearing evaluation.
Take the Next Step for Your Hearing Health
Taking care of your hearing can be an important part of staying connected, active, and aware of your surroundings as you age. If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or are having difficulty following conversations or hearing everyday sounds, it may be time to explore your options.
MDHearing offers affordable, FDA-registered hearing aids designed to make everyday conversations and sounds easier to hear. With a 60-day, risk-free trial, you can experience your hearing aids in the comfort of your own home and find out which option fits your hearing needs and lifestyle.
Explore MDHearing hearing aids today and take a step toward better hearing and healthy aging.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss and Falls
Can hearing loss cause you to fall?
Hearing loss and falls are associated with one another, particularly among older adults. Researchers believe several factors may contribute, including increased cognitive load, reduced awareness of environmental sounds, and changes in spatial awareness. However, hearing loss is only one potential factor among many that can contribute to falls.
Does hearing loss affect balance?
Yes, hearing loss and balance can be related. Hearing provides sensory information that can help people understand their surroundings, while the inner ear also contains the vestibular system, which plays an important role in balance. However, hearing loss itself does not necessarily mean that someone has a balance disorder.
Can hearing aids help with balance?
Some research suggests that hearing aids and balance may be connected because hearing aids can improve access to environmental sounds. A small study found improved performance on certain balance tests when participants' hearing aids were turned on.
Can hearing aids prevent falls?
There is currently not enough evidence to conclude that hearing aids directly prevent falls. Hearing aids can improve access to speech and environmental sounds for people with hearing loss, but they should be viewed as one part of an overall approach to hearing health and fall prevention for seniors.
Can untreated hearing loss increase fall risk?
Research suggests that hearing loss and fall risk are associated, although hearing loss is not necessarily the sole cause of a fall. Untreated hearing loss may contribute to factors such as reduced awareness of environmental sounds and increased cognitive effort when processing speech and other sounds.
What are common causes of falls in older adults?
Falls can have many causes, including poor balance or muscle weakness, vision problems, medications, environmental hazards, certain medical conditions, and sensory changes such as hearing or vision loss. Multiple factors may contribute to a single fall.
How can I prevent falls at home?
Fall prevention for seniors can include removing trip hazards, improving lighting, using appropriate safety equipment, maintaining strength and balance, reviewing medications with a healthcare professional, and addressing vision and hearing concerns.
Should I get my hearing tested if I keep falling?
If you are experiencing repeated falls or balance problems, talk with a healthcare professional. Hearing loss in older adults can be one factor associated with fall risk, and a hearing evaluation can help determine whether hearing loss may be contributing to difficulty hearing your surroundings.