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Mild hearing loss =

Real Talk: The Hidden Fall Risk You Can’t Ignore

A round blue icon with a person falling over onto spiky ground.

Many people have heard about the link between hearing loss and dementia. But here’s what’s not making headlines: untreated hearing loss can increase your odds of having a fall significantly.

It's a Bit Alarming

A landmark 12-year John Hopkins study revealed:2

Four icons saying the following: 1. Greater Risk of developing dementia. 2. Increased Odds of having a fall. 3. More money spend on health care. 4. Greater Chance of a relationship breakdown.

Every second, an older adult falls, and every year in the US, there are:

Adapted from CDC chart. National Vital Statistics, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

A man sitting on a stool leaning toward you, his hands clasped in his lap. He looks interested in you.

What Have You Got to Lose?

Maybe a Lot.

Feeling overwhelmed? That’s okay. You don’t have to take it all in at once. But if you’re still avoiding hearing aids because you think they “make you look old,” ask yourself this:

Which is more noticeable: hearing aids, or constantly asking people to repeat themselves?

Help maintain your dignity and independence.

Book a FREE, no obligation hearing screening today.*

The worse your hearing gets, the greater your risk.

BOOK APPOINTMENT

Want to learn more about other risks of untreated hearing loss?

Check out these pages:

Risks of Dementia

Increased Health Care Spending

Relationship Breakdown

Sources

1. Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, and Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD. Hearing Loss and Falls Among Older Adults in the United States. February 27, 2013. 2. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MT DPHHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Helena, MT: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Public Health and Safety Division, 2020. 3. Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years—United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023. 4. O’Loughlin J et al. Incidence of and risk factors for falls and injurious falls among the community-dwelling elderly. American journal of epidemiology, 1993. 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.  6. Laura Campos, Allan Prochazka, Melinda Anderson, Alexander Kaizer, Carol Foster, Timothy Hullar. Consistent hearing aid use is associated with lower fall prevalence and risk in older adults with hearing loss. October 2023. 7. Mahafza MT, Wilson WJ, Brauer S, Timmer BHB, Hickson L. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Hearing Aids on Static and Dynamic Balance in Adults with Hearing Impairment. Trends Hear. 2022. Hearing devices are subject to state and federal laws regarding conditions of sale, including, without limitation, in-person initial visits, direct observations, and testing/medical screenings (subject to exceptions). Terms, conditions and product features may vary based on location and product type. Free hearing screening available at participating locations only. *Some restrictions and limitations may apply (including, without limitation, additional terms and conditions found at https://www.beltone.com/en-us, participating locations, and applicable professional service fees or other charges in connection with tests, evaluations, and/or screenings). Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing screening and proper fit. © 2025 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. Beltone is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.

BOOK APPOINTMENT

Many people have heard about the link between hearing loss and dementia. But here’s what’s not making headlines: untreated hearing loss can increase your odds of having a fall significantly.

A gray-haired woman sitting on a stool. She's leaning toward you with a look of interest on her face. The banner above her includes a rectangle that encloses the words Real Talk. The headline is Mild hearing loss equals 3 times greater odds of having a fall.

Johns Hopkins researchers found people with just mild untreated hearing loss, the kind many shrug off, are 3X more likely to suffer a fall, when
compared to folks with normal
hearing. For every additional 10
decibels of hearing loss, the risk goes up even more.1

Understand the 
Risks of Ignoring 
Your Hearing
Loss


It’s hard to make a good 
decision about getting treatment for your hearing loss if you don’t have the whole picture.

Adapted from CDC chart. National Vital Statistics, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – All Injury Program; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

What Have You

Got to Lose?

Maybe a Lot.

Feeling overwhelmed? That’s okay. You don’t have to take it all in at once. But if you’re still avoiding hearing aids because you think they “make you look old,” ask yourself this:

Which is more noticeable: hearing aids, or constantly asking people to repeat themselves?

Help maintain your dignity 
and independence.

Book a FREE, no obligation hearing screening today.* The worse your hearing gets, the greater your risk.

BOOK APPOINTMENT

Want to learn more about other risks of untreated hearing loss?Check out these pages:

Risk of Dementia

Increased Health Care Spending

Relationship Breakdown

A man sitting on a stool leaning toward you, his hands clasped in his lap. He looks interested in you.

Sources

1. Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, and Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD. Hearing Loss and Falls Among Older Adults in the United States. February 27, 2013. 2. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MT DPHHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Helena, MT: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Public Health and Safety Division, 2020. 3. Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years—United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023. 4. O’Loughlin J et al. Incidence of and risk factors for falls and injurious falls among the community-dwelling elderly. American   journal  of  epidemiology,  1993. 
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.  6. Laura Campos, Allan Prochazka, Melinda Anderson, Alexander Kaizer, Carol Foster, Timothy Hullar. Consistent hearing aid use is associated with lower fall prevalence and risk in older adults with hearing loss. October 2023. 7. Mahafza MT, Wilson WJ, Brauer S, Timmer BHB, Hickson L. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Hearing Aids on Static and Dynamic Balance in Adults with Hearing Impairment. Trends Hear. 2022. Hearing devices are subject to state and federal laws regarding conditions of sale, including, without limitation, in-person initial visits, direct observations, and testing/medical screenings (subject to exceptions). Terms, conditions and product features may vary based on location and product type. Free hearing screening available at participating locations only.*Some restrictions and limitations may apply (including, without limitation, additional   terms   and  conditions  found 
at https://www.beltone.com/en-us, participating locations, and applicable professional service fees or other charges in connection with tests, evaluations, and/or screenings). Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing screening and proper fit. © 2025 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. Beltone is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.

Mild hearing

loss = 3X

 3X greater odds of having a fall 

 greater odds 

Think a Fall Is No Big Deal? Think Again.

Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.4  And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among older adults.

But this isn’t just an older adult issue—Johns Hopkins research found the same elevated odds of having a fall for adults aged 40 to 69 with untreated hearing loss.1

Each year, 1 in 4 Americans age 45 or more report falling.2,3

of having a fall

Even Mild Hearing Loss Increases Your
Odds of Having a Fall

It's a Bit Alarming 


A landmark 12-year Johns Hopkins study revealed:2

An icon saying more money spent on health care.
Rectangular icon that says even mild hearing loss increases the odds of having a fall by 3 times.

While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, in news interviews the researchers shared strong theories:

Think a Fall Is
No Big Deal?
Think Again.

A fall could impact your dignity and, perhaps more importantly, take away 
your independence. 
It’s not just the fall itself; 
it’s the aftermath.

Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.4  And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among older adults.

But this isn’t just an older adult issue—Johns Hopkins research found the same elevated odds 
of having a fall for adults aged 40 to 69 with untreated 
hearing loss.1

Each year, 1 in 4 Americans age 45 or more report falling.2,3

In the United States, the other numbers are staggering.

Every second,
an older adult
falls, and every 
year, in the US, 
there are:
Dark blue banner with a gray-haired woman sitting on a stool. She's leaning toward you with a look of interest on her face. The banner includes a rectangle that encloses the words Real Talk. The headline is Mild hearing loss equals 3 times greater odds of having a fall.

Johns Hopkins researchers found people with just mild untreated hearing loss, the kind many shrug off, are 3X more likely to suffer a fall, when compared to folks with normal hearing. For every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss, the risk goes up even more.1

A fall could impact your dignity and, perhaps more importantly, take away your independence. It’s not just the fall itself; it’s the aftermath.

In the United States, the other numbers are staggering.

A slanted bar graph that shows 37 million falls, 9 million injuries, 3 million ER visits, 1 million hospitalizations, 41,000 deaths each year in the U.S. This chart was adapted from the CDC chart. Information from National Vital Statistics, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, All Injury Program and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Why Does Hearing Loss Increase the Odds of Having a Fall?

Dr. Frank Lin, a leading researcher at Johns Hopkins, says hearing plays a bigger role in balance than most people realize. Quiet sounds—like footsteps or echoes off surfaces—give your brain subtle cues about your environment. Without them, your brain works overtime just to figure out what’s going on, leaving less energy to keep you steady on your feet.


It’s like trying to walk a balance beam while solving a math problem. Too much mental load equals higher chance of falling.

John Hopkins researchers found even mild hearing increases your odds of a fall by 3X.

This line graph was created by Beltone to help people visualize how the odds of having a fall increases as hearing loss gets worse. It shows a 1.4-fold increase for every 10 decibels of hearing loss. At mild hearing loss, the odds are 3 times, at 80 decibels of loss the graph shows odds that are 10 times. At 90 decibels, the graphs shows odds that are nearly 12 times.

Johns Hopkins researchers found even mild hearing loss increases the odds of having a fall by 3X. Then for every 10 decibels (dB) of hearing loss after that, the odds increase 1.4 -fold.1

The Good News? Hearing Aids May Help.

Regular, all-day use of hearing aids may cut your chances of having a fall almost in half.1,6 

But occasional use won’t protect you. Consistency is key.

Several studies have also shown the use of hearing aids improves balance in adults with hearing loss.7

Rectangular icon that says even mild hearing loss increases the odds of having a fall by 3 times.
Why Does
Hearing Loss 
Increase the
Odds of Having 
a Fall?
A slanted bar graph that shows 37 million falls, 9 million injuries, 3 million ER visits, 1 million hospitalizations, 41,000 deaths each year in the U.S. This chart was adapted from the CDC chart. Information from National Vital Statistics, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, All Injury Program and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Dr. Frank Lin, a leading researcher at Johns Hopkins, says hearing plays a bigger role in balance than most people realize. Quiet sounds—like footsteps or echoes off surfaces—give your brain subtle cues about your environment. Without them, your brain works overtime just to figure out what’s going on, leaving less energy to keep you steady on your feet.


It’s like trying to walk a balance beam while solving a math problem. Too much mental load equals higher chance of falling.

Johns Hopkins researchers found even mild hearing loss increases the odds of having a fall by 3X. Then for every 10 decibels (dB) of hearing loss after that, the odds increase 1.4 -fold.1

The Good News? Hearing Aids 
May Help.

Regular, all-day use of hearing aids may cut your chances of having a fall almost in half.1,6 

But occasional use won’t protect you. Consistency is key.

Several studies have also shown the use of hearing aids improves balance in adults with hearing loss.7

Dr. Frank Lin, a leading researcher at Johns Hopkins, says hearing plays a bigger role in balance than most people realize. Quiet sounds—like footsteps or echoes off surfaces—give your brain subtle cues about your environment. Without them, your brain works overtime just to figure out what’s going on, leaving less energy to keep you steady on your feet.

It’s like trying to walk a balance beam while solving a math problem. Too much mental load equals higher chance of falling.

John Hopkins
researchers found
even mild hearing
increases your  
odds of a fall

by 3X.

This line graph was created by Beltone to help people visualize how the odds of having a fall increases as hearing loss gets worse. It shows a 1.4-fold increase for every 10 decibels of hearing loss. At mild hearing loss, the odds are 3 times, at 80 decibels of loss the graph shows odds that are 10 times. At 90 decibels, the graphs shows odds that are nearly 12 times.

Johns Hopkins researchers found even mild hearing loss increases the odds of having 
a fall by 3X. Then for every 10 decibels (dB) of hearing loss after that, the odds increase 1.4 -fold.1

Regular, all-day use of hearing aids may cut your chances of having 
a fall almost in half.1,6 
But occasional use won’t protect you. Consistency is key.

Several studies have also shown the use of hearing aids improves balance in adults with hearing loss.7

Real Talk: The

Hidden Fall Risk

You Can’t Ignore