Hearing loss is a common challenge for older people, but does it warrant giving up driving? Driving habits differ amongst different individuals so the response isn’t straightforward.
Even if some adjustments need to be made to the radio volume, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a competent driver has to quit driving.
Whether hearing loss poses a risk while driving is a critical consideration for people planning everyday commutes or winter road trips. Is your hearing loss making you a dangerous driver?
Think beyond driving…
Early stage hearing loss most likely won’t negatively effect your driving, but if it goes untreated, driving will become progressively more hazardous.
There is a solid link between hearing health and brain health, as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine. The brain has to work extra hard fighting to hear, which causes it to have fewer resources for other everyday activities. It has a detrimental effect on cognition and can contribute to the onset of dementia. Driving is definitely off the table for a person who has dementia.
Should you drive if you have hearing loss?
Driving requires strong observational skills and some of that is auditory, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drive if you have hearing loss. Among the approximately 48 million Americans who have hearing loss, the majority of them still drive according to the Center for Hearing Communication.
Driving with hearing loss
With a few adjustments, you can still continue to be safe on the road. Here are some tips.
Stop procrastinating
Visit us, have your hearing tested, and think about 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 observant driver
You will still need to be aware of what’s going on around your vehicle even if you use hearing aids.
Don’t let it get too noisy in your car
This will let you focus your listening on driving without distractions. Turn the radio off and ask your passengers to keep the chatter to a minimum.
Remember to check your dashboard often
When you drive with hearing loss, the little things can mount up. For instance, you will no longer hear that clicking sound 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.
Keep your vehicle well maintained
You might not hear that rattling noise under the hood now or the warning alarm alerting you to a problem with your engine or another crucial component. Have your car serviced regularly so you can prevent this significant safety hazard. For individuals with hearing loss, this is crucial, even more so than it would be for somebody without hearing loss.
Watch the other cars closely
Of course, you would do that anyway, but you want to look for signs you might be missing something. You might not hear emergency sirens, for example, so if the cars are pulling over to the side, you should as well. Look to see how other drivers are responding to their surroundings to get clues on what you may not be hearing.
So is it possible to safely drive with hearing loss? That’s up to you. It is possible to be a good driver even if your hearing isn’t what it used to be because odds are your other senses will help you make the adjustment. But if you’re feeling concerned about it, schedule an appointment to come see if we can help you improve your situation, possibly by using hearing aids.
Come in and let us help you improve your quality of life by looking at the hearing solutions that will be suited to 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