WINTERSVILLE — Hearing loss can affect a person in ways that go beyond simply being able to understand what other people are saying, area professionals say.

“Even if there are no obvious signs of hearing loss, or maybe you are experiencing trouble communicating, tinnitus in the ear or difficulty hearing noises, we can start putting these links together. If you have a higher risk of falling, or if you have noticed a friend or family member’s walking speed has slowed, then a hearing test is so important,” said Dr. Lauren Rollo-Juchno.

Rollo-Juchno, an audiologist based in Beachwood, Ohio, was discussing a recent report from Apple that found hearing loss is directly linked to slower walking speeds.

“Overall, we always recommend an initial hearing test at age 60. Anyone older than 60 should get at least a baseline test,” added Rollo-Juchno, who is the supervising audiologist for Beltone in a region that includes Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Hearing loss, added Amber Brooks, can happen slowly, and many people don’t realize it is occurring gradually.

“People often think the people around them are mumbling, that it’s that person’s problem and not a hearing problem. Even if you don’t think there’s an issue, if you think someone is mumbling, that’s a good reason to have your hearing checked,” said Brooks, a hearing instrument specialist at Beltone’s Wintersville office.

The findings released by Apple are important because they build on what already has been established, they said.

“What I really appreciate about this study is that it has added another piece to what we already know — the overall concept that hearing loss can affect our entire body, from our ability to move and maintain balance to our ability to process information and memory,” Rollo-Juchno said.

Untreated hearing loss, she added, has been linked to a three- to five-times higher risk of cognitive decline.

“Our cognition, our memory, our processing and our ability to move safely through the world all connect with our hearing. Hearing loss is a big factor in those issues,” Rollo-Juchno added.

Brooks offered an example of a woman in her 70s who received hearing aids a couple of months ago. The patient’s biggest concern, she said, was her balance. That decision came after the woman read that hearing loss can affect balance and lead to trouble walking.

The patient noticed the difference right away, Brooks said.

“She felt that she had better balance and better stability,” Brooks said. “She didn’t feel like she was tripping or falling. That really excited her.”

Modern hearing aids, Brooks and Rollo-Juchno added, are far different from those people might remember their grandparents wearing. The devices are about half the size, help reduce background noise and are rechargeable.

While being able to communicate with loved ones is one of the primary reasons people seek to improve their hearing, the other benefits can be important as well.

“Then we see the secondary effects, the other improvements they didn’t quite realize were connected,” Rollo-Juchno said. “We see improvement with their memory and cognition, and we see improvement with their overall stability. They will have an easier time walking even if they still need to use walkers or canes.

“When you are more aware of your environment, you are more aware of all the sounds around you and you are able to safely position yourself,” Rollo-Juchno continued. “This all leads back to slower walking speeds. When you are subconsciously feeling like you are not hearing your environment as much as you should be, you find other ways to compensate. The best way to move through your environment safely is to slow down.

“When you are more confident in the sounds around you and in what you are seeing, hearing and how you are moving, you can move at a steadier speed.”

Beltone, Brooks and Rollo-Juchno said, offers complimentary hearing tests at its office at 111 Main St. For information, call (304) 914-4423.

“Hearing loss is the No. 1 modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline,” Rollo-Juchno said. “If we can treat hearing loss, wear hearing aids, improve mobility, reduce our risk of falling and reduce our risk of cognitive decline, we’ll be able to have a healthier and more independent life as we get older.”