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The Impact of Amplification on Cognitive Screening Test Scores
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
|June 30, 2022
Summary
Older adults with hearing loss performed better on cognitive tests when using hearing aids or listening devices. This suggests amplification can improve cognitive screening accuracy in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Hearing loss is a common issue in older adults and is linked to cognitive decline.
- Cognitive screening tests administered verbally can be negatively impacted by hearing impairment, potentially leading to inaccurate results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how hearing aids and personal listening devices affect cognitive screening test performance in older adults with hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Thirty older adults with hearing loss completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) under three conditions: without amplification, with hearing aids, and with a personal listening device (PLD).
Main Results:
- Cognitive screening test scores significantly improved when participants used either hearing aids or a PLD.
- The use of amplification positively impacted performance on the MMSE.
Conclusions:
- Hearing status and amplification are critical factors to consider during cognitive screening of older adults.
- Failing to account for hearing loss may result in invalid cognitive assessment outcomes and unnecessary referrals.
