How Hearing and Sound Affect Your Balance — And What It Means for Your Health

Did you know your ears do more than just help you hear? They also play a key role in helping you stay steady on your feet! Recent research shows that hearing loss can make it harder to keep your balance — and that treating hearing loss may help you stay safer and more confident.

Sounds Help Keep You Grounded

A major review of 28 studies involving over 700 people found that continuous background sounds, like white noise or gentle environmental sounds, helped people balance better — especially when they stood on unstable surfaces or had their eyes closed. In contrast, standing in complete silence or wearing noise-canceling headphones made it harder to stay steady. Researchers believe that sounds act as an “auditory anchor,” helping your brain create a mental map of your surroundings so you don’t lose your balance.

Hearing Loss Is Linked to Falls

A large study of adults aged 40–69 found that even mild hearing loss increased the risk of falling. For every 10 decibels of hearing loss, the risk of falling rose by 40%. This was true even after accounting for age, health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and other balance problems. That means hearing loss itself can make you more likely to fall.

Can Hearing Aids Help?

Some studies suggest hearing aids can improve static balance — like standing still on foam pads or difficult surfaces — especially in older adults or those with both hearing and vestibular (inner ear balance) issues. By restoring important sounds, hearing aids give your brain more information to help you stay upright. However, hearing aids don’t seem to improve dynamic balance (like walking speed or quick reactions if you trip).

Why This Matters

Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults. Because age-related hearing loss affects up to two-thirds of people over 70, treating hearing loss may not only help you hear better but also reduce your risk of falls. It’s one more reason why regular hearing tests are so important — and why you shouldn’t ignore signs of hearing difficulty.

Take Charge of Your Hearing and Balance

Schedule a hearing assessment to better understand your hearing health.

References

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Kowalewski, V., et al. (2018). Hearing loss does not affect reactive balance control in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 73(12), 1652–1657.

Lin, F. R., & Ferrucci, L. (2012). Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(4), 369–371.

Maheu, M., et al. (2019). The contribution of hearing aids to balance control in elderly patients with hearing and vestibular impairment. Ear and Hearing, 40(6), 1410–1420.

McDaniel, D. M., et al. (2018). The effect of hearing aids on postural stability measured by the Sensory Organization Test. Ear and Hearing, 39(4), 642–646.

Mount Sinai Health System. (2020, January 14). Sound can directly affect balance and lead to risk of falling [News release]. Mount Sinai.

Negahban, H., et al. (2017). Hearing amplification improves static postural control in elderly individuals with hearing loss. Gait & Posture, 58, 487–492.

Ninomiya, H., et al. (2021). Auditory cues improve balance control in older adults with hearing loss: A posturographic analysis. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, Article 698950.

Ross, J., et al. (2023). The effects of sound on standing balance: A systematic review. Ear and Hearing, 44(1), 5–16.

Rumalla, K., et al. (2015). Hearing aids improve postural stability in older adults with hearing loss. American Journal of Audiology, 24(4), 517–525.

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Weaver, T. S., et al. (2017). The effect of hearing aids on gait and balance in older adults with hearing impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(6), 1334–1339.