BackgroundAge-related hearing loss affects a significant portion of older adults and is associated not only with communication difficulties but also with mobility impairments, including reduced walking ability. Prior research suggests that auditory cues contribute to stable and efficient walking, and hearing loss might increase reliance on cognitive resources, such as working memory, to regulate gait. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with hearing loss using hearing aids rely more heavily on visuospatial working memory to support gait performance than their normal-hearing peers. The present study aimed to investigate whether visuospatial working memory predicts gait performance in older adults and whether this relationship differs between individuals with hearing loss using hearing aids and age-matched normal-hearing controls.MethodsData were drawn from the second wave of the longitudinal N200 study. A total of 190 adults, of which 104 with hearing loss using hearing aids and 86 with normal hearing, completed a visuospatial working memory task and the 2-minute walking test. Hierarchical robust regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age and sex, to examine the independent and interactive effects of hearing status and visuospatial working memory on walking speed.ResultsVisuospatial working memory and hearing status were both significant predictors of walking speed, independent of age and sex. Better visuospatial working memory was associated with faster walking, and hearing aid users walked more slowly than normal-hearing participants, despite using their hearing devices during testing. The interaction between hearing status and visuospatial working memory did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsVisuospatial working memory and hearing status independently contribute to gait performance in older adults. These findings underscore the importance of considering both sensory and cognitive factors in assessing mobility and fall risk in older adults with hearing loss.