Avoid Falls and Improve Your Overall Stability

By Jamie Bogle

In recognition of May Is Better Hearing Month…take time to take care of yourself.

Your hearing and balance care are important to your overall well-being and can affect your sense of stability and movement.

Did you know that falling is a significant health concern for adults over 65 years? Falls cause hospitalizations for over 800,000 people every year!¹ Audiologists help to determine risk factors for falling and help patients learn how to reduce risk.

Dizziness can be caused by many different problems, and sometimes the inner ear is a cause of dizziness. Ask your health-care provider these questions…

• Is there a cause for my dizziness?
• What can I do to reduce my risk of falling?
• Is it safe for me to drive?
• What can I do to feel better?

Falling is a significant health concern, but you can help reduce your risk with these tips.²

• Talk with your health-care provider about fall risk and any medications you take—some medications increase your risk of falling.
• Exercise to improve your strength and balance.
• Check your vision, hearing, and feet every year.
• Reduce your fall risk at home by removing tripping hazards, improving lighting, and installing hand rails.

Get Your Hearing and Balance Checked… Find an Audiologist Near You!

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Jamie M. Bogle, AuD, PhD, is the division chair of audiology and a clinical audiologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona. She is a member of the Academy Board of Directors. 

Resources

• Falls Risk
• Guide to Adult Hearing Health Care

Endnotes

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. Accessed April 9, 2019.

²Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STEADI Initiative for Health Care Providers.  Accessed April 9, 2019.