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

While hearing loss is a component to think about when driving a vehicle, a skilled driver is still proficient even if they need to adjust the radio volume.

For people who commute frequently the question of whether hearing loss presents a threat while driving is a crucial consideration. Is your hearing loss making you a unsafe driver?

Think beyond driving…

If you are noticing hearing loss, it won’t have a substantial impact on your driving ability…yet. That day is coming, though, if you choose to just ignore 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 people are saying. It is a contributing factor to brain atrophy, which results in dementia. Driving is certainly off the table for a person who has dementia.

Should you drive with hearing loss?

You can continue to drive with hearing loss, but it should be mentioned that safe driving requires good observational skills and this includes auditory awareness. Among the approximately 48 million Americans who have hearing loss, most of them still drive according to the Center for Hearing Communication.

Guidelines for driving if you have hearing loss

You can still be a safe driver if you make some adjustments and follow these guidelines.

Quit procrastinating

Come in to see us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids will help your situation. Hearing aids can help get rid of the “should I be driving with hearing loss” question.

Be a more observant driver

Even if you have hearing aids, you will still need to be a more aware driver to make sure you’re not missing anything in or surrounding your vehicle.

Don’t let it get too noisy in your car

This will let you focus your listening on driving without being distracted. Turn the radio off or down and ask your passengers to keep the chatter to a minimum.

Remember to check your dashboard often

It’s the little things that will mount up when you drive with hearing loss. For example, you will no longer hear that clicking noise that tells you that your turn signal is blinking. You will have to depend on your eyes to pick up the slack, so get in the habit of scanning 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 anymore or the warning alarm telling you there is a problem with your engine or another critical component. Have your car serviced routinely so you can prevent this major safety hazard. For people with hearing loss, this is important, even more so than it would be for someone who doesn’t have hearing loss.

Pay close attention to other vehicles around you

This is a no-brainer for everybody but if you have hearing loss it’s even more poignant. You might not hear emergency sirens, for example, so if the cars are pulling over to the side, you should too. Use the actions of other drivers to get some visual clues about traffic patterns around you.

Can you drive when you have hearing loss? It’s really a personal choice. It is possible to be a safe driver even if your hearing is not what it used to be because most likely your other senses will help you make the adjustment. If the thought of this makes you nervous, though, then it’s time to consult us and find a treatment to improve your situation, like wearing 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 unique hearing situation.

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