Hearing loss is a widespread challenge for older people, but does it require quitting driving? Driving habits differ amongst different people 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.

Whether hearing loss poses a risk while driving is an important consideration for individuals planning daily commutes or winter road trips. Is your hearing loss making you a unsafe driver?

Think beyond driving…

Early stage hearing loss most likely won’t negatively effect your driving, but if it’s neglected, driving will become progressively more dangerous.

There is a strong link between hearing health and brain health, as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine. The brain has to work extra hard struggling to hear, which causes it to have fewer resources for other day-to-day activities. It is a contributing factor to brain atrophy, which leads to dementia. Someone suffering from dementia definitely can’t drive.

Should you drive if you have hearing loss?

Driving requires good observational skills and some of that is auditory, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drive with hearing loss. The Center for Hearing and Communication estimates about 48 million Americans have significant hearing loss, and a good number of them still drive.

Driving with hearing loss

With some adjustments, you can still remain safe on the road. Here are some tips.

Quit procrastinating

Visit us, get a hearing test, and consider how hearing aids can change things for you. The question of whether you should be driving can be eliminated by using hearing aids.

Be a more aware driver

Even if you have hearing aids, you will still need to be a more aware driver to make sure you’re not missing anything in or around your vehicle.

Keep the noise down inside your car

This will help you be less distracted. Ask your passengers to talk more quietly and keep the radio down or off.

Remember to check your dashboard frequently

When you drive with hearing loss, the little things can mount up. For instance, you won’t hear that clicking sound that lets you know that your turn signal is blinking. You will have to rely on your eyes to compensate, so get in the habit of scanning your dashboard to see what your car is attempting to tell you.

Keep your vehicle well maintained

Maybe your car is making a weird noise in the engine but you are unable to hear it. That is a major safety hazard, 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 close attention to other vehicles around you

This is a no-brainer for everybody but if you have hearing loss it’s even more poignant. If you see other cars pulling to the side of the road, you should do that too because you may have missed the sirens. watch 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. Your other senses will normally adjust to help keep you safe, which means it is feasible to drive safely even if your hearing is beginning to go. If the idea makes you nervous, though, then it’s time to come see us and find a solution to improve your situation, like using hearing aids.

Contact us today to schedule your hearing test and look into hearing aid options for your distinctive 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