Cognition in older adults with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss compared to peers with normal hearing for age

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive performance of older adults with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and indication for cochlear implantation was evaluated compared to peers with age appropriate hearing.

Design: Prospective matched case control study.

Study sample: Study group consisted of n = 30 patients aged between 60 and 80 years, with adult onset, severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss on both sides and indication for cochlear implantation. Matched control group consisted of n = 30 peers with age-adjusted hearing abilities, based on age- appropriate norms.

Results: Differences in Constructional Praxis and Recall, Trail Making Test A and Stroop were not significant between both groups. However, the differences in Clock Drawing Test, Word Lists and Trail Making Test B were significant. The impairment in TMT B (cognitive flexibility) was mediated via the severity of depressive problems. Cognitive performance was not related to word recognition, the percentage and duration of hearing loss and hearing aid use.

Conclusion: Severely hearing-impaired older adults show widespread impairments in cognitive performance.

Keywords:

• Older adults
• sensorineural hearing loss
• normal hearing peers
• cognition

Acknowledgements

We thank all co-workers of this study: L. Weitgasser for medical evaluation, M. Pagitsch and L. Jankovic for audiometric testing, and R. Gusner Pfeiffer and Clara Havas for cognitive examinations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants of the International Hearing Foundation (www.internationale-hoerstiftung.de), Cochlear^TM and the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg Fund: R-13/01/004-RAS.