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Potential overestimation of cognitive impairment because of hearing loss: impact of test modalities on cognitive test scores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2023

M W Kim ,
M H Jin ,
J Y Choi  and
M Y Kwak Open the ORCID record for M Y Kwak [Opens in a new window]
M W Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Daejeon Eulji Medical Centre, Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
M H Jin
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Daejeon Eulji Medical Centre, Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
J Y Choi
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Daejeon Eulji Medical Centre, Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
M Y Kwak*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Daejeon Eulji Medical Centre, Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
*
Corresponding author: Dr M Y Kwak, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Eulji Medical Centre, 95 Dunsanseo-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35233, Republic of Korea E-mail: drmignon@naver.com Fax: +82 42 259 1162
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Abstract

Objective

Hearing impairment in older adults may affect cognitive function and increase the risk of dementia. Most cognitive tests are delivered auditorily, and individuals with hearing loss may fail to hear verbal instructions. Greater listening difficulty and fatigue in acoustic conditions may impact test performance. This study aimed to examine the effect of decreased audibility on cognitive screening test performance in older adults.

Method

Older adults (n = 63) with different levels of hearing loss completed a standard auditory Mini-Mental State Examination test and a written version of the test.

Results

Individuals with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss (41–70 dB) performed significantly better on the written (24.34 ± 4.90) than on the standard test (22.55 ± 6.25), whereas scores were not impacted for mild hearing loss (less than 40 dB).

Conclusion

Hearing evaluations should be included in cognitive assessment, and test performance should be carefully interpreted in individuals with hearing loss to avoid overestimating cognitive decline.

Keywords

Hearing lossDeafnessCognitionMini-Mental Status ExaminationAged
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 8 , August 2023 , pp. 845 - 850
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr M Y Kwak takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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