It’s Fall! Let’s Talk About the Kind We Don’t Want

The leaves are beginning to change, pumpkin spice is back on the menu, and the calendar officially says fall.

But there’s one kind of fall we’d rather help prevent.

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The first week of fall is also Falls Prevention Awareness Week, making it a good time to think about the things that help us stay safe, independent and connected as we age. Strength and balance, vision, medications and home safety may immediately come to mind.

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But there’s another piece of the puzzle that can be easy to overlook:

Your hearing.

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Hearing Is About More Than Conversation

When we think about hearing loss, we often think about missing words in a conversation, turning up the television or asking someone to repeat themselves.

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Hearing, however, helps us understand what is happening around us.

We use sound to notice an approaching car, hear someone calling from another room, recognize an alarm or become aware of something happening outside our immediate field of vision. When hearing becomes more difficult, we may lose some of those important environmental cues.

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Research has also found an association between hearing loss and an increased risk of falls in older adults. The reasons are still being studied, and hearing loss is certainly not the only factor that contributes to falling. Balance problems, medications, vision changes, muscle weakness and other health conditions can all play a role.

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But the connection is another reminder that hearing health is part of whole-person health.

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Staying Connected Is Part of Healthy Aging

There’s another side to hearing that matters just as much.

Hearing helps us stay connected.

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It allows us to participate in conversations around the dinner table, understand a doctor’s instructions, enjoy time with friends and family, and remain engaged in our communities.

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For someone experiencing hearing loss, those everyday moments can gradually become harder. And when hearing care is financially out of reach, getting help may be postponed for months or even years.

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That is where Hough Ear Institute’s HoughAid program comes in.

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HoughAid provides qualifying Oklahoma adults with clinical-grade hearing aids and professional audiology services at no cost to the participant. The program was created to remove a financial barrier that can stand between someone with hearing loss and the help they need.

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Because better hearing isn’t just about hearing more.

It’s about communicating, connecting and maintaining independence.

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This Fall, Add Hearing to the Checklist

Fall prevention often begins with simple steps: staying active, reviewing medications, checking vision, improving lighting, removing tripping hazards and talking with a healthcare provider about balance concerns.

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This fall, consider adding one more question to the list:

- How well am I hearing?

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If you or someone you love has noticed changes in hearing, consider scheduling a hearing evaluation with a qualified hearing healthcare professional. And if the cost of hearing aids has kept you or someone you know from seeking help, HoughAid may be able to help.

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After all, fall is wonderful when it means cooler weather, changing leaves and a new season.

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The other kind? Let’s do what we can to prevent it.

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Learn More About HoughAid

HoughAid serves qualifying Oklahoma adults age 19 and older with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Eligible participants receive clinical-grade hearing aids and audiology services at no cost.

Learn more about eligibility and apply for HoughAid through Hough Ear Institute.