J Audiol Otol.  2024 Oct;28(4):260-270. 10.7874/jao.2023.00507.

Hearing Screening for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review

• Limkitisupasin P
• Jongpradubgiat P
• Utoomprurkporn N

• KMID: 2560173
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7874/jao.2023.00507

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Hearing loss is the largest potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Early evaluation and intervention are crucial for older adults with cognitive impairment. However, pure-tone audiometry (PTA), the gold standard, may have limitations. This study reviewed auditory tests for detecting hearing loss in this population, comparing to PTA.
Materials and Methods
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a systematic review in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Ten studies (1,071 participants) comparing auditory tests and PTA in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment were included.
Results
Electrophysiological and behavioral tests demonstrated strong correlation and accurate hearing impairment detection compared to PTA. Conversely, self-reported assessment showed weaker correlations when aligned with hearing thresholds.
Conclusions
This study highlights the potential of electrophysiological and behavioral auditory tests in detecting hearing impairment in older adults with cognitive impairment, emphasizing the need for further research to develop practical screening protocols for this vulnerable population.

Keyword

Hearing loss; Cognitive impairment; Hearing screening; Audiometry; Dementia