Many older people experience hearing loss, but does that mean it’s dangerous for them to drive? The response isn’t straightforward, as driving habits differ among individuals.

Even if some adjustments have to be made to the radio volume, hearing loss shouldn’t mean a seasoned driver needs to stop driving.

For people who commute on a regular basis the question of whether hearing loss creates a threat while driving is a significant consideration. Is your hearing loss making you a hazardous driver?

Think beyond driving…

If you are noticing hearing loss, it won’t have a significant impact on your ability to drive…yet. That day is coming, though, if you choose to just dismiss your decline.

Johns Hopkins Medicine reports there is a distinct relationship between hearing and brain health. Battling to hear forces your brain to use valuable resources just to comprehend what individuals are saying. It has a detrimental impact on cognition and can play a role in the onset of dementia. Someone suffering from dementia certainly 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 if you have hearing loss. The Center for Hearing and Communication reports that about 48 million Americans have significant hearing loss, and a good portion of them still drive.

Driving with hearing loss

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

Stop procrastinating

Come in to see us for a hearing exam and find out if hearing aids will help your situation. The question of whether you should be driving can be eliminated by using hearing aids.

When you drive, be more aware

Even with 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.

Don’t let it get too noisy in your car

This will allow you to focus your listening on driving without being distracted. Ask your passengers to talk more quietly and keep the radio down or off.

Keep an eye on your dash lights

It’s the little things that will mount up when you drive with hearing loss. You may not be able to hear that clicking noise that your turn signal makes, for example. You will have to depend on your eyes to pick up the slack, so get in the habit of checking your dashboard to see what your car is attempting to tell you.

Keep your vehicle well maintained

Perhaps your car is making a weird noise in the engine but you can’t hear it. That is a significant safety risk, so make a point of having your car serviced routinely. That’s a good idea for most individuals but a necessity if you are driving with hearing loss.

Pay close attention to other vehicles around you

Obviously, you would do that anyway, but you want to watch 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. Use the behavior of other drivers to get some visual clues about traffic patterns around you.

So is it possible to safely drive with hearing loss? That’s up to you. Your other senses will typically adjust to help keep you safe, which means it is possible to drive safely even if your hearing is beginning to go. If the thought of this makes you uneasy, though, then it’s time to consult us and find a treatment to improve your situation, like using hearing aids.

Come in and let us help you better your quality of life by looking at the hearing options that will be appropriate for your unique hearing situation.

References

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
http://chchearing.org/facts-about-hearing-loss

How to Drive Safely When You Have Hearing Loss