Cognition Effects of Hearing Aids and Auditory Training in Older Age

Sensorineural type of hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit among older adults. Some of the psychosocial consequences of this condition include difficulty in understanding speech, depression and social isolation. Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss show some age-related cognitive decline. There is no clinically proven method to predict the onset of this condition, as its occurrence is slow and progressive, affecting both ears equally. Although hearing aid use and auditory training have been proven as successful interventions to alleviate sensorineural hearing loss, no research has been designed to look at the effect of both hearing aid use coupled with auditory training on cognitive performance in older adults. This study will investigate whether wearing hearing aids will improve the impact of auditory training on cognition, mood and social interaction for older adults with sensorineural hearing loss. This is a crossover trial targeting older adults between 50 and 90 years with either mild or moderate symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Consented, willing participants will undergo a six month intensive auditory training program (active control), as a rigorous means of examining the impact hearing aid use has on a person's cognition, mood and social interaction. Participants will be assigned in random order to receive hearing aid (intervention) for either the first three or last three months of the six month auditory training program. Each participant will be tested at baseline, three and six months on a battery of computer based cognitive assessments, together with mood, and social engagement measures. Effectiveness of hearing aids and auditory training will be evaluated using an online speech perception test (SPT) and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) Inventory. This study will investigate whether using a hearing aid coupled with auditory training can improve a person's cognition and learning abilities, relation