Nattawan Utoomprurkporn1,2, Joshua Stott3, Sergi Gonzalez Costafreda4, Doris Eva Bamiou1,5. 1. UCL Ear Institute, 332 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8EE, UK. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 1873 Rama IV road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. 3. Division of Psychology and Language Science, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. 4. Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. 5. NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Hearing and Deafness, Maple House Suite A 1st Floor, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7DN, UK.
Abstract
(1) Introduction: The validity of self-reported hearing disability measures has been assessed using their correlation with the pure-tone average (PTA) hearing loss for non-cognitively impaired adults. However, for people with cognitive impairment, factors in addition to the PTA can play a role in their self-reported difficulties. Patients with cognitive impairment may experience more hearing difficulties due to their brain processing sounds abnormally, irrespective of PTA. (2) Methods: Three groups of hearing aid users who had normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and dementia were recruited. Self-reported hearing abilities were assessed with the modified Amsterdam inventory for auditory disability (mAIAD) and the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). (3) Results: The SSQ and mAIAD scores were highly correlated with each other for all three groups. However, a correlation with objective PTA was found in the normal cognition but not the cognitively impaired groups. Self-reported hearing scores were associated with cognitive scores for the dementia group (4) Discussion: In people with combined cognitive and hearing impairment, PTA alone may be a poor predictor of hearing abilities. Subjective hearing questionnaires together with hearing tests may provide a better understanding of their hearing difficulties.
(1) Introduction: The validity of self-reported hearing disability measures has been assessed using their correlation with the pure-tone average (PTA) hearing loss for non-cognitively impaired adults. However, for people with cognitive impairment, factors in addition to the PTA can play a role in their self-reported difficulties. Patients with cognitive impairment may experience more hearing difficulties due to their brain processing sounds abnormally, irrespective of PTA. (2) Methods: Three groups of hearing aid users who had normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and dementia were recruited. Self-reported hearing abilities were assessed with the modified Amsterdam inventory for auditory disability (mAIAD) and the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). (3) Results: The SSQ and mAIAD scores were highly correlated with each other for all three groups. However, a correlation with objective PTA was found in the normal cognition but not the cognitively impaired groups. Self-reported hearing scores were associated with cognitive scores for the dementia group (4) Discussion: In people with combined cognitive and hearing impairment, PTA alone may be a poor predictor of hearing abilities. Subjective hearing questionnaires together with hearing tests may provide a better understanding of their hearing difficulties.
Authors: Nattawan Utoomprurkporn; Joshua Stott; Sergi G Costafreda; Courtney North; Mary Heatley; Doris Eva Bamiou Journal: Front Aging Neurosci Date: 2021-08-12 Impact factor: 5.750