Our Hearing Blog

How important is hearing for driving?

Although your sense of sight is undoubtedly the most important when behind the wheel, your sense of hearing helps you detect approaching emergency vehicles, hear the blaring horn of an impatient driver, or realize that your turn signals are engaged. It's also critical in helping you determine if something is wrong with your car, like a noisy belt under the hood.

If you have mild hearing loss, it probably doesn't significantly impact your ability to drive; however, it never hurts to be prepared and take extra precautions. If your hearing loss is more severe, there may be certain restrictions you must follow, depending on the laws of the state you live in.

Hearing aids are helpful when driving…

It's a very good idea to wear hearing aids if you’ve developed sensorineural hearing loss, which includes age-related hearing loss. Not only can hearing aids amplify the important sounds you hear on the road, but they can also keep your auditory system healthy so your brain doesn’t forget how to interpret other sounds in your environment.

Today’s hearing aids are technological marvels, with sensitive microphones designed to better discriminate between speech and background noises. Yet even with hearing aids, you’ll want to eliminate distractions while you’re driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed over 3,200 lives in the past year.

Improved hearing also enhances safety and awareness of one's surroundings, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall situational awareness. And perhaps most importantly, it can boost confidence and self-esteem. So, if you or a loved one are struggling with hearing difficulties, know that you are not alone.

There is help available so visit us today and discover why so many people trust Mid-America Hearing Center for all their hearing needs, or give us a call at (417) 466-7196 to schedule your appointment.