How Can We
PREVENT FALLS? It’s estimated that every year, one in three Canadian seniors will fall at least once.1 Here are a few factors that can increase the risk of falling: ³ Poor balance ³ Decreased muscle and bone
strength
³ Reduced vision or hearing ³ Unsafe conditions in and around
the home
So what does hearing loss have to do with fall risk? Well, human balance depends on three systems: vision, the somatosensory system (sensory information coming from the body), and the vestibular system. The last of these is located in the inner ear. As soon as one of these systems is affected, our balance can be affected as well. That's why people with hearing loss may have more balance problems, which can increase the risk of falling.
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