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Does hearing loss affect my driving skills?

April 3, 2018
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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: HearingLife, 6262 E Broadway Rd, Suite 103, Mesa, AZ 85206 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 11 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 171 Grandview Ave., Suite 203, Waterbury, CT 06708 | HearingLIfe, Audubon Medical Campus (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 3030 North Circle Drive, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | HearingLife, Saint Francis Medical Campus, NorthCare Pavilion (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 6071 East Woodmen Road, Suite 325, Colorado Springs, CO 80923 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 99 Wolf Creek Blvd, Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 104 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 202, Middletown, DE 19709 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 28 Peoples Plaza, Newark, DE 19702 | HearingLife 2051 Art Museum Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207 | HearingLife, 3754 US Highway 90, Suite No. 350, Pace, FL 32571 | HearingLife Sacred Heart Hospital Campus, 5147 North 9th Avenue, Suite 315, Pensacola, FL 32504 | Destin Hearing Associates, a HearingLife Company, 141 Mack Bayou Loop, Suite 202, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 1441 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot, ID 83221 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 3345 Merlin Drive, Suite 200, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 256 N. 2nd E., Suite 3, Rexburg, ID 83440 | HearingLife 100 East Northwood Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 775 Route 70 East, Suite F-120B, Marlton, NJ 08053 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 1000 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 | Anderson Audiology 3120 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146 | Anderson Audiology 9430 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 8913 | Anderson Audiology, 2642 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Henderson, NV 8905 | Anderson Audiology, 193 North Pecos Road, Henderson, NV 89074 | Anderson Audiology 6475 North Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89131 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 14 Columbia Circle Drive, Suite 202, Albany, NY, 12203 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 81 Miller Road, Suite 700, East Greenbush, NY, 12033 | HearingLife, formerly Family Audiology, 800 Hooper Road, Suite 370, Endicott, NY 13760 | HearingLife, formerly Family Hearing Center, 18 Westage Business Center Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 414 Maple Avenue, Suite 800, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 960 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH 43402 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 3450 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43606 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 725 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567 | Audiology Professionals, A HearingLife Company, 1600 Valley River Dr, Suite 395, Eugene, OR 97401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 8100 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 103, Philadelphia, PA 19152 | Arlington Hearing Center, A HearingLife Company, 2500 Wilson Blvd #105, Arlington, VA 22201 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 685 S. Washington St., Afton, WY 83110