A Cross-Sectional Study of Word Recognition and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Hearing Loss Using a...

Objectives: Dementia and hearing loss are prevalent conditions among older adults. This study aimed to determine the association between hearing loss and cognitive status using data from the Catholic Medical Center Clinical Data Warehouse (CMC-CDW). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted using the CMC-CDW. A total of 801 participants, aged 60 years and older, underwent bilateral speech audiometry and cognitive assessments using the Korea Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB). Results: The mean age of the participants was 77.1 ± 9.7 years, and the sex distribution was 313 males and 488 females. The mean speech recognition threshold was 39.6 ± 4.8 dB, and the average speech discrimination score was 74.3 ± 29.9%. The mean K-MMSE score was 25.1 ± 4.3. Cognitive status was categorized as normal (n = 205), mild cognitive impairment (n = 438), and dementia (n = 158). Logistic regression revealed that age, sex, and hearing loss were significantly associated with cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment may be observed even at a mild stage of hearing loss, highlighting the need for early evaluation and management in older adults.