Hearing Loss and Cognitive Impairment: Epidemiology, Common Pathophysiological Findings, and Treatment Considerations

Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasing research interest in the correlation between hearing impairment and cognitive decline, two conditions that have demonstrated a strong association. Hearing loss appears as a risk factor for cognitive impairment, especially among certain populations, notably nursing home residents. Furthermore, hearing loss has been identified as a modifiable age-related condition linked to dementia, and it has been estimated that midlife hearing loss, if eliminated, might decrease the risk of dementia in the general population. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the pathologic connections between hearing loss and dementia; however, clear evidence is missing, and the common pathophysiological basis is still unclear. In this review, we discussed current knowledge about the relationship between hearing loss and dementia, and future perspectives in terms of the effects of hearing rehabilitation for early prevention of cognitive decline.

Emerging Relations among Cognitive Constructs and Cochlear Implant Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…Importantly, this rate of cognitive decline may accelerate at older ages, 27 such that improvements in performance on cognitive assessments may not be apparent if the rate of cognitive decline outweighs that of gains from implantation. While future studies utilizing age‐matched controls may allow us to account for age‐related cognitive decline, there is also a need to account for the acceleration in cognitive decline observed in patients with sensorineural deafness 28 . A second variable in future studies that would be important to account for beyond our meta‐analysis above is baseline cognitive function.…”

“…While future studies utilizing age-matched controls may allow us to account for agerelated cognitive decline, there is also a need to account for the acceleration in cognitive decline observed in patients with sensorineural deafness. 28 A second variable in future studies that would be important to account for beyond our meta-analysis above is baseline cognitive function. In a few studies, samples included patients with abnormal baseline screening tests.…”

A New Technical Ear Training Game and Its Effect on Critical Listening Skills

“…The use of earphones and exposure to high levels of sound is becoming more prevalent, causing people to suffer from partial or permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss may disconnect people from social communication in public places (due to poor SiN performance) and this disconnected communication may subsequently cause cognitive impairments [46]. This is why an auditory training program is drawing researchers' attention: it may be possible that preventative auditory training (with appropriate contents and methods) could help reduce the risk of hearing loss in young adults.…”

The Effects of Core Stabilization Exercises on Respiratory Muscle Strength, Respiratory Functions, and Postural Control in Children With Hearing Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Auditory cues appear to have a minor association with postural control compared with visual, somatosensory, and vestibular information (Tonini et al 2019; Lubetzky et al 2020), a relationship between hearing loss and increased risk of falls, slower walking speed, balance instability, and significantly poor performance also have been reported (Bang et al 2020; Carpenter & Campos 2020; Lubetzky et al 2020). Current evidence suggests that hearing loss is an independent and modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and imposes cognitive resources that may affect support for balance and mobility (Pichora-Fuller et al 2016), which could affect support balance and mobility (Pichora-Fuller et al 2016; Carpenter & Campos 2020; Bisogno et al 2021).…”