Hearing loss is a widespread challenge for older individuals, but does it warrant giving up driving? The response isn’t clear-cut, as driving habits vary among individuals.
Even if some adjustments need to be made to the volume of the radio, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a competent driver needs to stop driving.
For individuals who commute on a regular basis the question of whether hearing loss poses a threat while driving is a significant consideration. Is your hearing loss making you a hazardous driver?
Think beyond driving…
Early stage hearing loss most likely won’t negatively impact your driving, but if it goes untreated, driving will become increasingly dangerous.
There is a strong connection between hearing health and brain health, as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine. The brain has to work overtime fighting to hear, which causes it to have fewer resources for other daily activities. It is a contributing factor to brain atrophy, which results in dementia. A person suffering from dementia definitely can’t drive.
If you have hearing loss, can you still drive?
You can still drive with hearing loss, but it should be mentioned that safe driving requires strong observational skills and this includes auditory awareness. The Center for Hearing and Communication estimates around 48 million Americans have significant hearing loss, and a good number of them still drive.
Guidelines for driving if you have hearing loss
With some adjustments, you can still continue to be safe on the road. Here are some tips.
Stop putting off
Come in to see us for a hearing test 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.
When you drive, be more aware
Even if you have hearing aids, you will still need to be a more observant driver to make sure you aren’t 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 often
It’s the little things that will add up when you drive with hearing loss. For instance, you will no longer hear that clicking noise that tells you that your turn signal is on. You will have to rely on your eyes to compensate, so get in the habit of checking your dashboard to see what your car is trying 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 major safety hazard, so make a point of having your car serviced regularly. 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
Of course, you would do that anyway, but you want to watch for signs you might be missing something. If you see other cars pulling to the side of the road, you should do that also because you may have missed the sirens. watch to see how other drivers are reacting to their surroundings to get hints on what you might not be hearing.
Can you drive when you have hearing loss? It’s really a personal choice. It is possible to be a safe driver even if your hearing is not what it used to be because most likely your other senses will help you make the adjustment. But if you’re feeling worried about it, schedule an appointment to come see if we can help you improve your situation, possibly with hearing aids.
Call us right away to schedule your hearing test and look into hearing aid solutions for your unique lifestyle.
References
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
http://chchearing.org/facts-about-hearing-loss