Cognitive performance of a group of elders: influence of hearing, age, sex, and education

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss impairs the elders' performance of daily life activities, and it may increase the risk for functional decline. Objective: To verify the elders' cognitive performance and establish its relationship with the presence and degree of the hearing loss, sex, age and education. Method: 33 elders from 60 to 82 years were assessed, and they were 20 (60.6%) men and 13 (39.4%) women. These assessments included pure-tone audiometry and the application of the minimental state examination (MMSE). Results: The data analysis made it possible to verify that age, sex, and education in this group of individuals did not affect the MMSE scores. The only influential factor on the test performance was the hearing loss degree. The elders showing normal hearing thresholds or a light hearing loss in their best ear obtained significantly higher scores than those showing a moderate to severe hearing loss. Conclusion: It was acknowledged that the presence of some hearing loss affects the elders' cognitive performance. Sex, age, and education were not change determining factors regarding the MMSE scores.

Keywords

• Elder people
• Ageing
• Hearing loss
• Cognition