PubMed ID: 36412130
Author(s): Dillard LK, Pinto A, Mueller KD, Schubert CR, Paulsen AJ, Merten N, Fischer ME, Tweed TS, Cruickshanks KJ. Associations of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use With Cognition, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms. J Aging Health. 2023 Aug;35(7-8):455-465. doi: 10.1177/08982643221138162. Epub 2022 Nov 22. PMID 36412130
Journal: Journal Of Aging And Health, Volume 35, Issue 7 8, Aug 2023
ObjectivesDetermine associations of hearing loss (HL) and hearing aid (HA) use with cognition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and depressive symptoms. Methods: Participants were from the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study or Beaver Dam Offspring Study. HL was defined as pure-tone average (.5-4.0 kHz) > 25 dB. A principal component analysis of 5 cognitive tasks measured cognition. The SF-12 measured mental and physical HRQoL. The Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale measured depressive symptoms (score ≥ 16). Regression models returned beta (B) coefficients or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: This study included 3574 participants. HL (vs. none) was associated with poorer cognition (B-.12 [-.18, -.06]), mental (B-.99 [-1.65, -.33]) and physical (B-.76 [-1.50, -.03]) HRQoL, and increased odds of depressive symptoms (OR 1.49 [1.16, 1.91]). HA users had better cognition than non-users. Discussion: HL likely impacts cognition and well-being. HA use may have cognitive benefits.