When most people think about hearing aids, they think about one thing: hearing better. And yes, that is exactly what they do brilliantly. But here is something that surprises many of our Adelaide clients: today’s hearing aids can also look after your safety, and one clever feature can even send for help if you have a fall.
If you or someone you love has ever worried about falling at home, this one is for you.
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The Surprising Link Between Hearing Loss and Falls
Falls are a bigger issue than many of us realise. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around one in three Australians aged 65 and over experience a fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisations in this age group.
Here is where your ears come in. Hearing and balance are next-door neighbours. Your inner ear houses both your hearing organ (the cochlea) and your balance system (the vestibular system), so it makes sense that they are closely connected. If you have ever felt unsteady and wondered why, the problem might actually be your ears.
Research backs this up in a big way. A well-known Johns Hopkins study found that people with even mild hearing loss were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling, and every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss increased the odds of falling further. The researchers suggest that when you cannot hear well, you have less awareness of your overall environment, and your brain works so hard to listen that fewer resources are left for balance and walking safely.
In other words, untreated hearing loss does not just make conversations harder. It can quietly make you more accident prone too.
How Wearing Hearing Aids Helps
The good news? Treating your hearing loss helps on both fronts. Wearing hearing aids restores your awareness of the sounds around you, things like approaching footsteps, traffic, a kettle boiling over or a pet underfoot. Many of our clients tell us they simply feel more confident and steady once they are hearing well again.
It is one more reason we always encourage people to act sooner rather than later when it comes to hearing loss. The earlier you treat it, the more you protect, and that includes your safety.
Starkey Fall Alert: A Hearing Aid That Can Call for Help
Now for the feature we are genuinely excited about. Starkey, one of the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, was the first to build fall detection into a hearing aid, and it is a game changer for anyone who lives alone or has family who worry about them.
Today, Fall Alert is built into Starkey Omega AI, Starkey’s premium hearing aid range. Here is how it works:
- Built-in motion sensors in the hearing aids detect when you have a fall. Because your hearing aids sit on your head, they are actually in an ideal position to sense a fall accurately.
- When a fall is detected, the system automatically sends a text message to up to three nominated contacts, such as your partner, your children or a close friend or neighbour. The message includes a link showing your location, so help knows exactly where to find you.
- Worried about false alarms? If the hearing aids detect a fall but you are perfectly fine, you have 60 seconds to cancel the alert before any messages are sent.
The whole system is set up through the My Starkey app on your smartphone, and we help you get it all configured at your fitting appointment. Once it is running, it works quietly in the background, all day, every day, in a device you are already wearing. No extra pendant to remember, no buttons to wear around your neck.
Other Safety Features in Modern Hearing Aids
Fall Alert is the standout, but modern hearing aids are packed with features that make daily life safer and easier:
- Health and activity tracking, so you can keep an eye on your daily step count and, on Omega AI, even your respiratory rate.
- Locating misplaced hearing aids, using your phone to help you track down a device you have put down somewhere.
- Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, letting you take phone calls directly through your hearing aids, hands-free, whether you are driving, walking or out in the garden.
As completely independent audiologists, we fit every major brand of hearing aid, so we will always recommend what genuinely suits your hearing, lifestyle and budget.
Try This Incredible Technology at Hearing Sense
At Hearing Sense, you can trial any hearing aid free for 30 days, including Starkey Omega AI with Fall Alert, and experience the difference in your own home and daily life.
It all starts with a comprehensive, free hearing test (free for adults aged 26 and over) at any of our three Adelaide clinics: Norwood, Unley and Salisbury.
Book an appointment online and discover how much more a hearing aid can do for you, and for the people who love you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Starkey hearing aids have Fall Alert?
Fall Alert is available on Starkey Omega AI, Starkey’s premium range. If you are also weighing up Starkey’s G Series AI or the custom Signature Series, give us a call or book a free appointment, and we will talk you through which features each range includes and help you find the right fit for your hearing and lifestyle.
Do I need a smartphone for Fall Alert to work?
Yes. Fall Alert is set up and managed through the My Starkey app, and your hearing aids need to be connected to your phone to send alerts. We will help you set everything up at your appointment.
Will it send an alert if I just bend down or sit quickly?
The system is designed to tell the difference between everyday movements and genuine falls. And if a fall is ever detected by mistake, you have 60 seconds to cancel before any alert messages are sent to your contacts.
Can Fall Alert call emergency services?
No, it sends text alerts to up to three contacts you nominate, with a link to your location. It is designed to get help from your trusted people quickly, rather than replace a medical alarm service.
