TDNet Discover

Background: Hearing loss is a health concern that increases in conjunction with age. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) can impact many aspects of a person’s life, including social interactions and mental health. Research has established a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline, however, the causal relationship between ARHL and cognitive decline has not been identified. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine if hearing restorative devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, can halt or slow the progression of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults with ARHL. Methods: Three researchers undertook a systematic review aimed at addressing the research question. The researchers completed independent and duplicate searches across multiple databases, agreed on search parameters, utilized a search log to monitor the literature progressing through the selection process, and had criteria that must have been met by all research studies. The criteria revolved around various factors pertinent to the research question to ensure the inclusion of relevant studies and the exclusion of studies that did not meet the set parameters. Five studies met all parameters set by the researchers and were included in this systematic review. Results: The outcomes from the 5 studies suggest that using hearing restorative devices in those with ARHL led to slower rates of decline in cognitive function than individuals with hearing impairment not using hearing aids. Neural changes, indicating cognitive improvement, were seen in a study after the utilization of hearing aids in those with hearing impairment. Conclusions: This research's findings show a diminished cognitive decline rate among individuals with untreated hearing impairment. These results emphasize the prospective benefits of using hearing restorative devices in older adults with hearing impairment and diminishing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in this population. The prompt identification and treatment of hearing impairment in older adults has the potential to dramatically reduce the iv incidence of cognitive decline.