Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
09:15
Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages
Published on: April 11, 2025
396
Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognition
Baptiste Grenier1, Claudine Berr2, Marcel Goldberg3
1Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center, Integrative Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease, Paris, France.
JAMA Network Open
|October 1, 2024
Summary
Hearing loss (HL) is linked to cognitive impairment. Hearing aid (HA) use did not significantly reduce cognitive impairment odds, except in those with depression. Monitoring cognitive function in middle-aged adults with HL is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous studies on hearing loss (HL) and cognitive impairment often used subjective hearing measures and focused on single cognitive dimensions.
- Few studies have investigated the impact of hearing aid (HA) use on cognitive function using objective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess the association between varying degrees of hearing loss and multiple cognitive dimensions.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of hearing aid use in mitigating cognitive impairment in adults.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of the CONSTANCES cohort (n=62,072) including adults aged 45-69 years.
- Objective audiometric measurement of hearing loss (HL) and a standardized battery of 5 cognitive tests.
- Multivariable analyses examined the association between HL severity, HA use, and global cognitive impairment.
Main Results:
- Both mild HL and disabling HL were significantly associated with increased odds of global cognitive impairment.
- Hearing aid use was not significantly associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment overall.
- An exception was observed in participants with depression, where HA use showed a significant reduction in cognitive impairment odds.
Conclusions:
- A clear association exists between the severity of hearing loss and global cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults.
- Hearing aid use, in general, did not demonstrate a significant protective effect against cognitive impairment in this cohort.
- The findings underscore the importance of monitoring cognitive function in individuals with hearing loss and suggest potential benefits of hearing aids in specific subgroups, such as those with depression.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Language and Cognition
335
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.
335
01:31Hearing
51.9K
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.
51.9K
01:01Perception of Sound Waves
4.4K
The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
4.4K
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
65
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,...
65
01:17Auditory Perception
322
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
322
01:25Learning Disabilities
86
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
86