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Does hearing loss affect my driving skills?

April 3, 2018
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Does hearing loss affect my driving skills?

Many of us take for granted the important role that hearing plays while we drive. Coupled with our vision, our hearing alerts us to the activity all around us, such as urgent oncoming of emergency vehicles or the sudden movement in traffic. In fact, in many driving situations, we hear important things before we even see them like the startling honk from another driver, a car travelling in our blind spots or the powerful engine of a motorcycle maneuvering through lanes.

Hearing impairment can significantly impact your ability to drive. It is a scary realization for those who do not want to give up their driving privileges and those with jobs heavily dependent on the ability to drive. This is one of the reasons why caring for our hearing health is so important.

In a 2010 study conducted by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 107 adults ranging from 62 to 88 years of age and with varying statuses of hearing health were instructed to drive on a closed-road circuit while reporting on the various road signs and avoiding the road hazards they encountered. The track was driven without distraction, then with auditory distractions and then again with visual distractions. The study found that those with a hearing impairment had a significantly poorer performance in the presence of distractions; they were less likely to avoid road hazards and took longer to complete the course.

What does this mean for drivers with hearing loss? It does not mean you are a bad driver! Aside from visiting a hearing health professional, there are a few tips that can help ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road:

  • Lower your speed when traffic situations become more difficult/complex/challenging
  • Look in your rear-view mirror and to each side more often
  • Keep your car stereo volume low
  • Always wear your hearing aids if you have them
  • Keep a safe distance from other vehicles,
  • Pay attention to traffic signals, pedestrians and your blind spots

Drive safe and take care of your hearing health!

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The purpose of this hearing assessment and/or demonstration is for hearing wellness and to determine if the consumer may benefit from using hearing aids, which may include selling and fitting hearing aids. Products demonstrated may differ from products sold. Assessment conclusion is not a medical diagnosis and further testing may be required to diagnose hearing loss. The use of any hearing aid may not fully restore normal hearing and does not prevent future hearing loss. Hearing instruments may not meet the needs of all hearing-impaired individuals. One offer per consumer and offer cannot be combined with any of our promotional offers, coupons or discounts. Offer not available to any consumer who has private or federal health insurance coverage. Other terms may apply, see office for details.

Please note: Complimentary hearing assessment is not valid at the following locations: | Anderson Audiology, a HearingLife Company, 2642 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite A-11, Henderson, NV 89052 | Anderson Audiology, 193 North Pecos Road, Suite #110, Henderson, NV 89074 | Anderson Audiology, 6475 N. Decatur Boulevard, Suite 125, Las Vegas, NV 89131 | Anderson Audiology, 9430 W. Lake Mead Boulevard, Suite 11, Las Vegas, NV 89134 | Anderson Audiology, 3120 S. Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 202, Las Vegas, NV 89146 | Audiology Professionals, Inc., 1600 Valley River Drive, Suite 395, Eugene, OR 97401 | COLORADOHearing, a HearingLife Company, 3030 North Circle Drive, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | COLORADOHearing, a HearingLife Company, 6031 E. Woodmen Road, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80923 | Feehan Hearing Center, 22 Morgan Farms Drive, Suite 5, South Windsor, CT 06074 | Francis Audiology, 7000 Stonewood Drive, Suite 210, Wexford, PA 15090 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., 99 Wolf Creek Boulevard, Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., 28 Peoples Plaza, Newark, DE 19702 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., 104 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 202, Middletown, DE 19709 | Hearing, Balance & Speech Center, 11 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 | Hearing, Balance & Speech Center, 171 Grandview Ave., Suite 203, Waterbury, CT 06708 | HearingLife, 6262 E. Broadway Road, Suite 103, Mesa, AZ 85206 | HearingLife, 1632 Savannah Road, Suite 3, Lewes, DE 19958 | HearingLife, 3754 Highway 90, Suite 350, Pace, FL 32571 | HearingLife, 5147 North 9th Avenue, Suite 315, Pensacola, FL 32504 | HearingLife, 141 Mack Bayou Loop, Suite 202, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | HearingLife, 100 East Northwood Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | HearingLife, 5009 Southport Crossing Way, Suite 104, Southport, NC 28461 | HearingLife, 3909 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite #110, Wilmington, NC 28403 | HearingLife, 8986 Lorton Station Boulevard, Suite 201, Lorton, VA 22079 | HearingLife, 106 Shoppers Way, Unit 112, Brunswick, GA 31525 | HearingLife, 155 E. Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31545 | HearingLife, 527 Stephenson Avenue, Suite A-3, Savannah, GA 31405 | HearingLife, 16741 Highway 67 South, Suite E, Statesboro, GA 30458 | Kenwood Hearing Center, 960 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH 43402 | Kenwood Hearing Center, 3450 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43606 | Kenwood Hearing Center, 725 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center, 14 Columbia Circle Drive, Suite 202, Albany, NY 12203 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center, 81 Miller Road, Suite 700, East Greenbush, NY 12033 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center, 414 Maple Ave., Suite 800, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | Metro Hearing, 13934 N. 59th Avenue #120, Glendale, AZ 85306 | Metro Hearing, 13657 W. McDowell Road #200, Goodyear, AZ 85395 | Metro Hearing, 4045 E. Bell Road #135, Phoenix, AZ 85032 | Metro Hearing, 11000 N. Scottsdale Road #165, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 | Metro Hearing, 13203 N. 103rd Drive J4, Sun City, AZ 85351 | Metro Hearing, 14506 W. Granite Valley Drive #117, Sun City West, AZ 85375 | Regional Hearing and Balance Center, 3345 Merlin Drive, Suite 200, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 | Regional Hearing and Balance Center, 256 N. 2nd E., Suite 3, Rexburg, ID 83440 | Regional Hearing and Balance Center, 685 S. Washington Street, Afton, WY 83110 | REM Audiology Associates, 1000 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 | REM Audiology Associates, 8100 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite 103, Philadelphia, PA 19152 |