Relationship between hearing loss and cognitive memory decline in an elderly population

Background: The major complaints of the elderly are hearing and memory loss, which have a devastating impact on the communication process. Previous studies have shown that hearing loss is associated with the acceleration of this cognitive decline. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between moderate to moderatelysevere hearing loss and memory deficit in elderly individuals. Design and setting: This is an observational, cross-sectional study realized in seniors of Hearing Care Program at the Taubaté University Hospital, Taubaté - SP/ Brazil. Methods: Data was collected using audiometry, anamnesis, and the cognition test Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) in 60-75 years old individuals, without knowledge of previous cognitive memory deficit and without the use of hearing aids. Results: Between the 61 seniors interviewed, 68% had moderate degree of deafness and 32% moderately severe degree. Among the normal results in the MMSE, 24% had moderately severe deafness; of those with cognitive impairment without indication of investigation of dementia, 35.7% had moderately severe deafness, and of those with indication of investigation of dementia, 50% had moderately severe deafness. In addition, 23% of the total sample had results in the normal cutoff range, showing the tendency for cognitive decline in this population. Conclusions: these data indicate a progression in the proportion of individuals with a higher degree of hearing loss, the higher the cognitive deficit.