Speech understanding in the elderly.

Both auditory and cognitive status were determined in 130 elderly persons, in the age range from 51 to 91 years. Data were analyzed from the standpoint of the congruence of auditory and cognitive deficits. The prevalence of central auditory processing disorder was 50%, and the prevalence of cognitive deficit was 41%. Findings in the two areas were congruent, however, in only 63% of the total sample. Central auditory status was abnormal in the presence of normal cognitive function in 23% of subjects. Central auditory status was normal in the presence of cognitive deficit in 14% of subjects. In general, results did not support the hypothesis that decline in speech understanding in the elderly can be explained as the consequence of concomitant cognitive decline.