Investigating the Impact of Hearing Aid Use and Auditory Training on Cognition, Depressive Symptoms, and Social Interaction in Adults With Hearing Loss: Protocol for a Crossover Trial

Abstract

BackgroundSensorineural hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit among older adults. Some of the psychosocial consequences of this condition include difficulty in understanding speech, depression, and social isolation. Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss show some age-related cognitive decline. Hearing aids have been proven as successful interventions to alleviate sensorineural hearing loss. In addition to hearing aid use, the positive effects of auditory training—formal listening activities designed to optimize speech perception—are now being documented among adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids, especially new hearing aid users. Auditory training has also been shown to produce prolonged cognitive performance improvements. However, there is still little evidence to support the benefits of simultaneous hearing aid use and individualized face-to-face auditory training on cognitive performance in adults with hearing loss.ObjectiveThis study will investigate whether using hearing aids for the first time will improve the impact of individualized face-to-face auditory training on cognition, depression, and social interaction for adults with sensorineural hearing loss. The rationale for this study is based on the hypothesis that, in adults with sensorineural hearing loss, using hearing aids for the first time in combination with individualized face-to-face auditory training will be more effective for improving cognition, depressive symptoms, and social interaction rather than auditory training on its own.MethodsThis is a crossover trial targeting 40 men and women between 50 and 90 years of age with either mild or moderate symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Consented, willing participants will be recruited from either an independent living accommodation or via a community database to undergo a 6-month intensive face-to-face auditory training program (active control). Participants will be assigned in random order to receive hearing aid (intervention) for either the first 3 or last 3 months of the 6-month auditory training program. Each participant will be tested at baseline, 3, and 6 months using a neuropsychological battery of computer-based cognitive assessments, together with a depression symptom instrument and a social interaction measure. The primary outcome will be cognitive performance with regard to spatial working memory. Secondary outcome measures include other cognition performance measures, depressive symptoms, social interaction, and hearing satisfaction.ResultsData analysis is currently under way and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in June 2018.ConclusionsResults from the study will inform strategies for aural rehabilitation, hearing aid delivery, and future hearing loss intervention trials.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03112850; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03112850 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xz12fD0B).

The cognitive and psychosocial effects of auditory training and hearing aids in adults with hearing loss

“…Participants were recruited from eight independent living retirement facilities and surrounding communities across Melbourne, Australia. The complete study protocol is described elsewhere 15…”

Listening-Based Communication Ability in Adults With Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review of Existing Measures

“…Measures of cognition are therefore relevant to understanding the processing and individual expression of listening and communication (Lunner et al, 2009). For example, a recent study using a hearing-impairment simulation demonstrated that hearing loss does indeed impact cognitive-test performance, and this is not only due to reduced audibility (Füllgrabe, 2020).The studies identified in this review used measures of cognition for a variety of purposes: (1) to understand relationships between cognitive domains and listening (Amichetti et al, 2013;Ferguson and Henshaw, 2015;Keidser et al, 2016); (2) to account for variance in listening ability that is not identified within standard audiological measures (Kronenberger et al, 2014;Kaandorp et al, 2017;Moberly et al, 2018b); (3) as an indicator of neurocognitive function (Gates et al, 2008;Wong et al, 2014;Dawes et al, 2015); and (4) to determine if targetting cognition assists with rehabilitation (Pichora-Fuller and Levitt, 2012;Castiglione et al, 2016;Nkyekyer et al, 2018). As with language and communication, measurement of cognition as a separate and discrete function is complex.…”

Review of integrated solutions for rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in adults

“…Использование слуховых тренировок у пациентов, носящих СА, повышает адаптацию пациента к среде, стабилизирует его когнитивный и эмоциональный статус. Так, в Австралии было проведено исследование [2,5,6] 40 пациентов с ХСНТ в возрасте от 50 до 90 лет с симметричной билатеральной потерей слуха умеренной и выраженной степени, использующих СА не менее 3 месяцев. Проводилась оценка уровня депрессии с Н а у к а и и н н о в а ц и и в м е д и ц и н е Т.5(1)/2020 E N T d i s e a s e s 14.01.03 Болезни уха, горла и носа (медицинские науки) помощью гериатрической шкалы депрессии и когнитивной функции до и после проведения слухового тренинга в течение 6 месяцев.…”