The Relationship Between Hearing and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Differences in Perception

Abstract

Individuals are now living longer than ever, which has brought up a new concern of preserving their quality of life. The geriatric population faces many challenges as they age. One of the primary hardships faced is their loss of cognitive function. As individuals age, they slow down both physically and mentally. Recently, hearing loss has been considered a modifiable risk factor for dementia. This means that a hearing loss could increase the likelihood of one being diagnosed with a cognitive deficit. The purpose of this study was to analyze if there was a relationship between hearing and cognitive function in 12 participants above the age of 65 years. This study also compared the subjective perceptions of the Primary Participant to their Communicative Partner. The results showed a significant correlation between the cognitive screener and the audiometric thresholds found in the lower frequencies. There was no correlation found between the different perceptions. These results agree with research done in the past and can be used to help the geriatric population as they age.