Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults: questions and answers

Aging Clin Exp Res. 2014 Dec;26(6):567-73. doi: 10.1007/s40520-014-0266-3. Epub 2014 Oct 4.

Abstract

The association between hearing impairment, the diagnosis of dementia, and the role of sensory therapy has been proposed for some time, but further research is needed. Current understanding of this association requires the commitment of those experts who can integrate experience and research from several fields to be able to understand the link from hearing to dementia. A workshop whose panelists included experts from many areas, ranging from ear, nose and throat (ENT) to dementia's specialists, was promoted and organized by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Science Foundation (Milan, Italy; Houston, TX, USA) to increase the awareness of the relationship between hearing loss and dementia, and included questions and comments following a presentation from the clinical researcher, Frank Lin, who has been evaluating the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline since 2009.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology*
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Dementia / pathology
  • Dementia / psychology
  • Hearing Loss / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Loss / pathology
  • Hearing Loss / psychology*
  • Humans