Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2024 Feb;17(1):26-36. 10.21053/ceo.2023.00815.

The Effects of Music-Based Auditory Training on Hearing-Impaired Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Park S
• Park KH
• Han W

• KMID: 2553053
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2023.00815

Abstract

Objectives
. The present study aimed to determine the effect of music-based auditory training on older adults with hearing loss and decreased cognitive ability, which are common conditions in the older population.
Methods
. In total, 20 older adults diagnosed with both mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participated. Half of this group were randomly assigned to the auditory training group (ATG), and the other half were designated as the control group (CG). For the ATG, a 40-minute training session (10 minutes for singing a song, 15 minutes for playing instruments, and 15 minutes for playing games with music discrimination) was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks (for a total of 16 sessions). To confirm the training effects, all participants were given tests pre- and post-training, and then a follow-up test was administered 2 weeks after the training, using various auditory and cognitive tests and a self-reporting questionnaire.
Results
. The ATG demonstrated significant improvement in all auditory test scores compared to the CG. Additionally, there was a notable enhancement in cognitive test scores post-training, except for the digit span tests. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the questionnaire scores between the two groups, although the ATG did score higher post-training.
Conclusion
. The music-based auditory training resulted in a significant improvement in auditory function and a partial enhancement in cognitive ability among elderly patients with hearing loss and MCI. We anticipate that this music-based approach will be adopted for auditory training in clinical settings due to its engaging and easy-to-follow nature.

Keyword

Aural Rehabilitation; Cognitive Function; Auditory Function; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Age-Related Hearing Loss; Age-Friendly Health Service

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. A schematic presentation of the music-based auditory training protocol. After conducting six screening tests as the inclusion criteria specified, evaluations were conducted at three time points (pre-training, post-training, and then 2 weeks after the training) for both the auditory training group (ATG) and the control group (CG). The evaluation tools consisted of consonant-vowel identification, sentence recognition under both quiet and noise background conditions, sentence memory and sequence, connected speech, memory of digits, and questionnaires. The ATG participated in 40-minute training sessions twice a week for 8 weeks. The training components consisted mainly of singing a song, playing musical instruments, and music discrimination, while also including various games using auditory-visual formats. Each phase of the training became more difficult and complex. K-MoCA, Korean-Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MMSE-K, Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination; PTA, pure-tone average; WRS, word recognition score; KNISE-DASP, Korea National Institute for Special Education-Developmental Assessment of Speech Perception; K-CVLT, Korean California Verbal Learning Test; WHOQOL-BREF, Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Short Form.

• 

  Fig. 2. A performance comparison of eight auditory tests between two groups as a function of the testing time (pre-test, post -test, and follow-up [FU] test): (A) vowel identification, (B) consonant identification, (C) complete sentence, (D) target words, (E) sentence memory, (F) sentence sequence, (G) connected speech, (H) sentence recognition in background noise using a matrix. A solid line with closed circles refers to the auditory training group, and a dashed line with X refers to the control group. *Denotes statistical significance at P<0.05.

• 

  Fig. 3. A performance comparison of five cognitive tests and one subjective questionnaire measuring the quality of life between the two groups as a function of the testing time (pre-test, post -test, and follow-up [FU] test). (A) Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE-K), (B) immediate recall of Korean California Verbal Learning Test, (C) delayed recall of Korean California Verbal Learning Test, (D) forward digit span test, (E) backward digit span tests, (F) Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF). A solid line with closed circles refers to the auditory training group, and a dashed line with X refers to the control group. *Denotes statistical significance at P<0.05.

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