A new study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals an increased rate of accidental injuries are associated with self-reported, poorer hearing adults, with leisure-related injuries being most notable among those respondents.

If you have trouble hearing, it can increase your risk of an injury, according to a research. While many factors can contribute to accidental injuries, the relationship between them and certain sensory impairments, such as hearing loss, are noteworthy. Additionally, the near-universal availability of screening and treatment options for hearing loss would classify it as a preventable risk factor for accidental injuries.

A new study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals an increased rate of accidental injuries are associated with self-reported, poorer hearing adults, with leisure-related injuries being most notable among those respondents. Those with "good" or "a little trouble" hearing were at a higher risk of work-related injuries.

"Many adults believe that hearing loss, particularly due to aging, is 'normal' and therefore of little consequence other than, perhaps, social difficulties. We were motivated to create this study since hearing is a special sense that plays an important role in warning us of danger in our surroundings. We wanted to see if a poorer hearing ability was related to accidental injuries," said Neil Bhattacharyya, MD, senior author of the paper.