STRANGE LINKS

THE surprising links between diseases. This week: Hearing loss and falls THOSE with hearing aids have a lower risk of fall-related injuries than those who leave their hearing loss uncorrected, according to a study from the University of Michigan in the US.

‘It’s plausible that hearing aids may help reduce falls as hearing helps your orientation,’ explains Dr Piers Dawes, a senior lecturer in audiology at the University of Manchester.

However, he does point out that hearing aids are not free in the US, so it’s possible that those who can’t afford to buy one may also be in poorer health in other ways.

The cost of hearing aids can be halved through the HSE, ‘so if you think you might have a hearing problem, your GP can refer you to an audiologist.