Providing hearing aids to older adults, along with counselling their families, were found to reduce falls by nearly 30 per cent over a three-year period, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal.

Falls -- a leading cause of injury and major health concern among the elderlies -- have been linked with hearing loss, among other factors, including a decline in physiological responses, mobility and cognitive skills.

Researchers, including those from Edinburgh Napier University, UK, provided hearing aids and counselling to family members of half of 977 adults in the US, aged 70-84, with untreated hearing loss and without substantial cognitive impairment. The other half -- 487 participants -- were the 'control group' and given health education.