The protective role of hearing aids on delayed recall and spatial orientation in age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a significant risk factor for cognitive decline that can be mitigated using hearing aids (HAs). This study investigated the impact of HAs on cognitive function in ARHL, specifically targeting delayed recall and spatial orientation, and identified the influencing factors using multivariate logistic regression.

This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 104 ARHL patients from July 2023 to October 2025 were enrolled, dividing them into HA users (HA+ group, n = 47) and non-HA (HA- group, n = 57). The patients underwent audiological and cognitive assessments, including pure tone average (PTA), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Group comparisons were performed using these measures. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of impaired delayed recall and spatial orientation, considering variables such as age, sex, HA+/- status, education, severity of hearing loss, depressive symptoms, living alone, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and hypertension.

The HA + group had significantly better MoCA (24.49 ± 2.78 vs. 21.00 ± 3.63; Z = -4.881, p < 0.001) and MMSE (25.81 ± 2.45 vs. 23.33 ± 3.33; Z = -4.118, p < 0.001) scores than the HA- group, notably in delayed recall (Z = -2.653, p = 0.008) and spatial orientation (Z = -3.643, p < 0.001). HAs were a significant protective factor for both delayed recall [OR = 0.271, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.080, 0.914)] and spatial orientation [OR = 0.233, 95% CI = (0.066, 0.823)]. Additionally, higher educational levels were associated with better cognitive function.

HAs improved cognitive function in patients with ARHL, especially in terms of delayed recall and spatial orientation, with education offering additional protection.