Hearing aid use and cognition in older adults: Can we delay decline or even improve cognitive function?

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundHearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, and has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Although hearing aids are a successful treatment for hearing loss, it is unknown whether hearing aid use can delay the onset of cognitive decline or improve cognitive function in older adults with hearing loss. This prospective longitudinal study is investigating the effect of hearing aid use on cognitive decline and addresses many of the methodological limitations of previous studies.MethodPatients are recruited from the University of Melbourne Academic Hearing Aids Audiology Clinic and assessed before and every 18 months after he..