Abstract: We studied 410 patients (220 females; 17-100 years old) from Eastpoint Audiology (Louisville, Kentucky, USA). Most patients completed a traditional, behavioral hearing evaluation (250-8000 Hz pure tones) and cognitive screening using a computerized assessment tool (Cognivue Thrive®, Victor, New York, USA), which is an FDA-approved screen that takes 10 minutes to administer. The Cognivue Thrive® consists of five cognitive domains (memory, visuospatial, executive functioning, reaction time, and processing speed). Multivariate correlation analysis was performed by comparing those subsets of the cognitive assessment results with age and hearing thresholds, respectively.
Summary: The results demonstrate that aging and hearing loss could be co-varying factors associated with cognitive decline. That is, aging and hearing loss may contribute to the reduction in cognitive function interdependently or independently. These findings suggest that the interdependent processes of age-related hearing and cognition require a careful approach in research and clinical care. Further studies will be required to determine a detailed causal association between hearing loss, aging, and cognitive decline.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the effect of hearing loss and aging on cognitive function as assessed by a computerized cognitive screening tool
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