Live: April 1, 2026 @ 7:00 pm CST / 8:00 pm EST

Recording available after event

Webinar Description

This webinar explores the current evidence on the relationship between hearing loss, balance dysfunction, and fall risk, including how type and severity of hearing loss, age, and vestibular status influence outcomes. Participants will examine proposed mechanisms underlying these associations and discuss the essential role of physical therapists within an interprofessional team to prevent falls and enhance participation for individuals with hearing loss.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the state of the literature regarding the relationship between hearing loss, balance dysfunction and falls risk with respect to different types of hearing loss, severity, age and vestibular status.

  • Identify possible underlying mechanisms explaining the relationship between hearing loss, balance dysfunction and fall risk.

  • Evaluate and compare evidence-based interventions and adaptations to address or slow impairment progression.

Presenter

Jennifer Kelly

PT, DPT, NCS

Jennifer Kelly PT, DPT, NCS is the Administrative Director at the Ear Institute of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Associate Professor, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai. She earned her Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Springfield College in 2002 and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2008. In 2009, she was board certified in neurological rehabilitation by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and recertified in 2019. Her area of clinical interest is vestibular rehabilitation, and her research focuses on postural control assessment for patients with hearing loss and vestibular disorders.

Co-Presenter

Anat Lubetzky

PT, PhD, CSCS

Anat Lubetzky, PT, PhD, CSCS is an Associate Professor at New York University, Department of Physical Therapy and the director of Steinhardt PhD program in Rehabilitation Sciences. Research in Dr. Lubetzky's lab incorporates interdisciplinary expertise to study sensory integration for postural control, and develop instrumented assessments of postural control for better understanding of balance problems and for balance assessment and rehabilitation. Dr. Lubetzky’s line of research aims to understand why people with hearing loss are an increased risk for falls and to identify the optimal approach to mitigate the risk. Dr. Lubetzky’s group has been studying the contribution of sounds to postural control given hearing or vestibular loss in different context, aiming to apply the knowledge gained to balance rehabilitation of people with vestibular disorders and fall prevention in people with hearing loss. Her work has been funded by the NIH and the Hearing Health Foundation.