The Effect of Hearing Aid Use on Cognition in Older Adults: Can We Delay Decline or Even Improve Cognitive Function?

Abstract

Hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia in older adults. Whether hearing aid use can delay the onset of cognitive decline is unknown. Participants in this study (aged 62–82 years) were assessed before and 18 months after hearing aid fitting on hearing, cognitive function, speech perception, quality of life, physical activity, loneliness, isolation, mood, and medical health. At baseline, multiple linear regression showed hearing loss and age predicted significantly poorer executive function performance, while tertiary education predicted significantly higher executive function and visual learning performance. At 18 months after hearing aid fitting, speech perception in quiet, self-reported listening disability and quality of life had significantly improved. Group mean scores across the cognitive test battery showed no significant decline, and executive function significantly improved. Reliable Change Index scores also showed either clinically significant improvement or stability in executive function for 97.3% of participants, and for females for working memory, visual attention and visual learning. Relative stability and clinically and statistically significant improvement in cognition were seen in this participant group after 18 months of hearing aid use, suggesting that treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids may delay cognitive decline. Given the small sample size, further follow up is required.

Prevalence and risk factors of dual sensory impairment among community‐dwelling older adults in Selangor: A secondary data analysis

“…Similar findings had been reported in Japan showing an approximately two‐fold increase in the odds of cognitive impairment among those who had DSI 28 . For this reason, studies had been conducted to investigate the effect of hearing aids on delaying cognitive decline and a recent study has shown a positive result 29 . It also has been demonstrated that individuals with better cognitive ability showed more aided benefit from hearing aids than those with poorer cognitive ability 30 .…”

“…28 For this reason, studies had been conducted to investigate the effect of hearing aids on delaying cognitive decline and a recent study has shown a positive result. 29 It also has been demonstrated that individuals with better cognitive ability showed more aided benefit from hearing aids than those with poorer cognitive ability. 30 Given this finding, it is important to detect DSI early before any detrimental effect can take place.…”

Hearing Aid Uptake, Benefit, and Use: The Impact of Hearing, Cognition, and Personal Factors

“…It has previously been highlighted that subjective methods tend to overestimate HA use in comparison to datalogging (Humes et al, 2002). However, a recently published study including the participants in this study has reported reasonably high reliability between self-reported HA use and data-logging results at 18 months post HA fitting (Sarant et al, 2020).…”

A Study of the Effectiveness Verification of Computer-Based Dementia Assessment Contents (Co-Wis): Non-Randomized Study

“…In 2017, it was estimated that the prevalence of dementia among those aged 65 or above was 9.94% and that approximately 700,000 individuals had dementia [2]. Along with the advance of pharmacological treatments or interventions, modifiable dementia risk factors need to be addressed to prevent this disease [3].…”

“…Dementia is a degenerative disease, its early diagnosis is critical, and considerable effort has been invested in preventing and curing dementia [4]. To receive a diagnosis of dementia, diverse treatments or interventions, modifiable dementia risk factors need to be addressed to prevent this disease [3].…”