Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
06:04
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
496
The effect of hearing aids on cognitive function: A systematic review
Maxime E Sanders1, Ellen Kant1, Adriana L Smit1,2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|December 31, 2021
Summary
Hearing aids may benefit executive function in individuals with hearing loss, but evidence is mixed. More research is needed to confirm the impact of hearing aids on cognitive function and dementia risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia affects 50 million globally, projected to triple by 2050.
- Hearing loss is the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia.
- Mechanisms linking hearing loss and cognitive decline require further understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review literature on hearing aid interventions for cognitive function.
- To examine evidence for hearing aids in treating deteriorating cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and grey literature (1990-2020).
- Included 17 longitudinal studies with 3526 participants without dementia at baseline.
- Cognitive tests were grouped by DSM-V domains; meta-analysis was not feasible due to data heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Hearing aids showed the most benefit in executive function (6/11 studies improved).
- Three of five studies indicated improvement in brief mental status screening.
- Complex attention showed the least benefit, with 8/9 studies showing no significant effect.
Conclusions:
- Evidence on hearing aids' effect on cognition is controversial.
- Further research, including randomized clinical trials with standardized assessments and longer follow-up, is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
229
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
229
01:31Hearing
53.7K
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
53.7K
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
361
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
361
01:27Language and Cognition
502
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
502