The impact of hearing loss on language performance in older adults with different stages of cognitive function

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic data

Variable	Predementia (n=54)	Dementia (n=44)
Mean age ± SD (range), years	82.4±6.6 (65–94)	84.1±5.7 (66–94)
Sex
Females, n (%)	37 (68.5)	37 (84.1)
Males, n (%)	17 (31.5)	7 (15.9)
GDS score, mean ± SD	2.4±0.6	4.4±0.5
Education
Illiterate, n (%)	2 (3.6)	1 (2.3)
No formal education, but can read, n (%)	9 (16.7)	17 (38.6)
Primary school, n (%)	28 (51.9)	20 (45.5)
Secondary school, n (%)	8 (14.8)	3 (6.8)
University, n (%)	7 (13.0)	3 (6.8)

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; GDS, Global Deterioration Scale.

Figure 1 Mean hearing loss (dB hl) with standard deviations as error bars in the better-hearing ear for the predementia and dementia groups plotted as a function of tone frequency.

Abbreviation: dB HL, decibels of hearing level.

Table 2 Audiometric and language scores as a function of global Deterioration scale group

	Predementia (n=54)	Dementia (n=44)	t (df)	P-value
PTA	42.5±11.0	44.9± 10.4	−1.100 (96)	0.274
VFT	9.5±3.8	4.0±2.1	8.509 (96)	0.000**
BNT	7.7±2.7	4.8±2.0	5.780 (96)	0.000**
TT	48.1 ±9.5	31.8±10.5	8.069 (96)	0.000**

Notes: PTA was of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better-hearing ear (decibels of hearing level). The results are expressed as the mean values ± the standard deviation.

**P<0.001.

Abbreviations: PTA, pure-tone average; VFT, Verbal Fluency Test; BNT, Boston Naming Test; TT, Token Test; df, degrees of freedom.

Table 3 Correlation between hearing loss and language scores as a function of global Deterioration scale group

	Hearing loss
	Predementia		Dementia		Total (N=98)
	r	P-value	r	P-value	r	P-value
Language scores
VFT	−0.070	0.614	−0.317	0.056	−0.104	0.310
BNT	−0.055	0.693	−0.146	0.345	−0.129	0.206
TT	−0.363	0.007**	−0.227	0.139	−0.298	0.003*

Notes: Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) between hearing loss and language performance.

*P<0.05;

**P<0.001.

Abbreviations: VFT, Verbal Fluency Test; BNT, Boston naming Test; TT, Token Test.

Figure 2 Scatterplot showing a moderate negative linear relationship between Token Test scores and hearing loss in the predementia group.

Abbreviation: dB hl, decibels of hearing level.