When the Lights Go Down – Why My Husband Struggles to Walk in the Dark
My husband Andrew is severely deaf, and like many people with hearing loss, that’s only part of the story. He also has balance problems. It’s something we live with every day—but it becomes especially obvious at night, when walking suddenly feels like a challenge most people wouldn’t think twice about.
It all started very suddenly, and frighteningly.
A Sudden Change That Changed Everything
Andrew caught a virus. Nothing too dramatic at first—just a bit under the weather. But then he went to bed and slept for 36 hours straight. When he woke up, everything had changed.
He couldn’t hear properly. In fact, his hearing was almost completely gone. Not long after, he began to experience dizzy spells. At the time, we didn’t fully connect the two symptoms—but we’ve since learned that they’re more closely related than we ever imagined.
Hearing and Balance Live Side by Side
Inside the inner ear is the cochlea, responsible for hearing, and right next to it is the vestibular system—the bit that helps us balance. When Andrew’s virus damaged his hearing, it affected his vestibular system too. That’s why he started feeling dizzy, unsteady, and unsure on his feet.
He didn’t have full-on vertigo, but he described it as “the world going round at an angle, whilst he stays still” He gets a terrible headache and feels nauseous. It wasn’t constant, but it came in waves—and it never truly went away. The dizziness eventually faded, but the balance issues remain.
How the Eyes Step In
Since then, Andrew has had to rely heavily on his eyesight to keep balanced. He watches the floor, the lines of buildings, shadows, railings—anything that helps his brain figure out which way is up. His eyes have become his second balance system.
But when the lights go down, that system struggles too. In the dark, there are fewer visual cues. The world becomes flat and uncertain. Walking down an unfamiliar path at night can feel like walking on marshmallows.
He slows down, sometimes stops completely, trying to get his bearings. It’s not fear—it’s instinct. His body is doing everything it can to stay upright and safe.
The Quiet Challenge of Walking
It’s easy to overlook just how tiring it is. The concentration needed to walk in the dark, when your balance is compromised and your ears no longer help, is immense. It’s not just physical—it’s mental and emotional. It can be frustrating and, at times, isolating.
Over time, we’ve adapted and we’ve both become more aware of how much extra effort these situations take.
What We’ve Learned
Hearing loss is more than a loss of sound. It can also affect how we move, how we feel in space, and how safe we feel doing everyday things like walking.
Andrew’s experience isn’t unique. Many people with hearing loss—especially when it’s caused by damage to the inner ear—also experience balance difficulties. The connection is real, and it deserves more attention.
If someone you care about is struggling with both hearing and balance, know that it’s not in their imagination. These systems are intertwined. And when one fails, the other has to work harder.
A Little Understanding Goes a Long Way
So next time you see someone moving slowly, stopping to steady themselves, or hesitating in the dark, remember—they may be using every ounce of concentration just to stay balanced.
And sometimes, simply knowing that can make a world of difference.
ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association) have a great article about hearing and balance ==> ASAH Hearing and Balance
Hearing Ambassadors has lots of other interesting information about hearing loss. For example ==> How does it feel to have hearing loss