Description

This presentation focuses on the role of hearing aids within a multisensory clinical framework, emphasizing how auditory input interacts with vestibular and oculomotor systems to support spatial orientation and balance. Using a Bayesian perspective, the talk highlights how improved auditory signal reliability through amplification can influence central sensory integration, visual stabilization, and postural control. The aim is to provide clinicians with a broader understanding of hearing aid benefits beyond speech perception.

Outcome Objectives

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how hearing aid–mediated auditory input contributes to multisensory integration involved in balance and spatial orientation.

2. Describe the concept of sensory reweighting and its relevance to hearing aid fitting in patients with imbalance or dizziness.

3. Incorporate multisensory considerations into hearing aid evaluation and counseling to optimize functional outcomes.

Background

Hearing aid outcomes are traditionally evaluated based on speech understanding and communication performance. However, auditory signals also play a critical role in multisensory networks that integrate vestibular and oculomotor information. In individuals with hearing loss, reduced auditory reliability may lead to maladaptive sensory reweighting, increasing reliance on visual or vestibular cues and contributing to instability and higher cognitive load. Restoring auditory input through hearing aids may support more efficient multisensory integration and improve functional stability, particularly in older adults and patients with coexisting audiovestibular complaints. This perspective supports a more comprehensive approach to hearing aid assessment and clinical decision-making.

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