Hearing loss is a common challenge for older people, but does it merit quitting driving? The response isn’t straightforward, as driving habits differ among individuals.
Even if some adjustments need to be made to the volume of the radio, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a skilled driver has to stop driving.
For individuals who commute on a regular basis the question of whether hearing loss poses a threat while driving is a crucial consideration. Is your driving becoming unsafe because of hearing loss?
Think beyond driving…
Early stage hearing loss probably won’t negatively effect your driving, but if it goes untreated, driving will become increasingly hazardous.
There is a strong connection between hearing health and brain health, as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Battling to hear forces your brain to use valuable resources just to understand what individuals are saying. It is a contributing factor to brain atrophy, which leads to dementia. Someone suffering from dementia certainly can’t drive.
Should you drive if you have hearing loss?
You can continue to drive with hearing loss, but it should be mentioned that safe driving requires good observational skills and this includes auditory awareness. Among the approximately 48 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss, most of them still drive according to the Center for Hearing Communication.
Driving with hearing loss
You can still be a safe driver if you make some adjustments and follow these guidelines.
Quit procrastinating
Come in to see us for a hearing exam and find out if hearing aids will help your situation. Hearing aids can help get rid of the “should I be driving with hearing loss” question.
Be a more aware driver
You will still need to be observant about what’s happening around your vehicle even if you have hearing aids.
Don’t let it get too noisy in your car
This will allow you to focus your listening on driving without distractions. Turn the radio off or down and ask your passengers to keep the chit-chat to a minimum.
Learn to look at your dashboard frequently
It’s the little things that will add up when you drive with hearing loss. You may not be able to hear that clicking noise that your turn signal makes, for instance. You will have to depend on your eyes to pick up the slack, so get in the habit of checking your dashboard to see what your car is attempting to tell you.
Make maintenance a priority
Maybe your car is making a strange noise in the engine but you are unable to hear it. That is a significant safety risk, so make a point of getting your car serviced routinely. That’s a good idea for most people but a necessity if you are driving with hearing loss.
Pay attention to other vehicles around you
Obviously, you would do that anyway, but you want to watch for signs you may be missing something. You may not hear emergency sirens, for instance, so if the cars are pulling off to the side, you should as well. Look to see how other drivers are reacting to their surroundings to get hints on what you may not be hearing.
Can you drive with hearing loss? That’s up to you. It is possible to be a safe driver even if your hearing is not what it once was because most likely your other senses will help you make the adjustment. If the thought of this makes you uneasy, though, then it’s time to come see us and find a treatment to improve your situation, like using hearing aids.
Come in and let us help you improve your quality of life by exploring the hearing options that will be suitable for your distinctive hearing situation.
References
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
http://chchearing.org/facts-about-hearing-loss