Journal article
The contribution of hearing and hearing loss to balance control
J Vitkovic, C Le, SL Lee, RA Clark
Audiology and Neurotology | KARGER | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1159/000445100
Abstract
This study investigated the hypothesis that a hearing 'map' of our surroundings is used to maintain balance control. We investigated the effects of sound on postural sway using centre of pressure analysis in 50 subjects with normal hearing, 28 with hearing loss and 19 with vestibular dysfunction. The acoustic environments utilized sound cues that were either present or absent. It was found that auditory cues are utilized by subjects with normal hearing to improve postural sway. The ability to utilize sound for postural control is diminished when there is a hearing loss, but this appears to be overcome by the use of a hearing aid. Patients with additional vestibular deficits exploit auditory ..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This study was jointly funded by the Deafness Foundation and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital through the Peter Howson Research Fellowship. The authors would like to acknowledge the statistical guidance of Sue Finch from the University of Melbourne Statistical Consulting Centre.