Lots of older individuals have hearing loss, but does that mean it’s unsafe for them to drive? Driving habits vary amongst different individuals so the response isn’t straightforward.
Even if some adjustments need to be made to the volume of the radio, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a seasoned driver has to quit driving.
For individuals who commute on a regular basis the question of whether hearing loss presents a threat while driving is an important consideration. Is your driving becoming unsafe because of hearing loss?
Think beyond driving…
If you are detecting hearing loss, it won’t have a huge impact on your driving ability…yet. That day is coming, though, if you choose to just ignore your decline.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has found there is a distinct relationship between hearing and brain health. Struggling to hear forces the brain to use valuable resources just to understand what people 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 demands strong observational skills and this includes auditory awareness. The Center for Hearing and Communication reports that around 48 million Americans have substantial hearing loss, and a good number of them still drive.
Driving with hearing loss
You can still be a safe driver if you make some adjustments and follow these guidelines.
Stop putting off
Come in to see us for a hearing exam and find out if hearing aids will help your condition. The question of whether you should be driving can be removed by using hearing aids.
Be a more observant driver
You will still need to be observant about what’s happening around your vehicle even if you use hearing aids.
Keep the noise down inside your car
This will help you be less distracted. Turn the radio off or down and ask your passengers to keep the chit-chat to a minimum.
Remember to check your dashboard frequently
When you drive with hearing loss, the little things can add up. You might not be capable of hearing that clicking noise that your turn signal makes, for example. You will have to depend on your eyes to compensate, so get used to checking your dashboard to see what your car is trying to tell you.
Keep your vehicle well maintained
Maybe your car is making a strange noise in the engine but you can’t hear it. Get your car serviced routinely so you can prevent this significant safety risk. For people with hearing loss, this is important, even more so than it would be for somebody without hearing loss.
Pay attention to other vehicles around you
Of course, you would do that anyway, but you want to look for signs you may be missing something. If you see other cars pulling off the road, you should do that also because you might have missed the sirens. Look to see how other drivers are responding to their surroundings to get clues on what you might not be hearing.
So is it possible to safely drive with hearing loss? That’s up to you. Your other senses will usually adjust to help keep you safe, which means it is possible to drive safely even if your hearing has started to go. But if you’re feeling concerned about it, schedule an appointment to come see if we can help you better your situation, possibly with hearing aids.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing test and look into hearing aid options for your unique lifestyle.
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References
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
http://chchearing.org/facts-about-hearing-loss