Hearing tests boost health

ROUTINE eye tests and dental checks can help to identify certain health problems, such as diabetes. And now there’s growing evidence that a hearing test can also be an important barometer of health. The link between lowfrequency hearing loss and cardiovascular disease is so distinctive that some health experts believe hearing tests should be used to identify those at risk. People with diabetes are also twice as likely to experience hearing difficulties, while those with pre-diabetes — where the condition is still classed as reversible — are 30 per cent more likely. And hearing loss can trip us up in more ways. One in three people over 65 has had a serious fall. A mild 25-decibel hearing loss triples that risk. Moderate hearing loss also triples the risk of dementia, while increasing the possibility of misdiagnosis if a patient mishears questions from a doctor. The good news is that better hearing and communication promotes better health overall. Experts have identified that medical patients who have sought help for their hearing problems demonstrate reduced anxiety levels, levels an improved understanding of their diagnosis and an increased willingness to follow advice. Hearing aid audiologist Tazmeet Anand says: ‘Hearing aids can have such an enormous impact on someone’s life. ‘There’s often a real sense of relief that they’ll no longer be missing out on conversations. ‘Once somebody has a pair of hearing aids, I can assure you they’ll never want to give them back, and they’ll wonder how they ever coped without them.’