Amieva Hélène, Ouvrard Camille
Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Center, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
J Clin Med. 2020 Mar 16;9(3):805. doi: 10.3390/jcm9030805.
Hearing loss is the third most prevalent health condition in older age. In recent years, research has consistently reported an association between hearing loss and mental health outcomes, including poorer cognitive performances. Whether treating hearing loss in elders improves cognition has been directly or indirectly addressed by several studies. This review aims at providing a synthesis of those results. Regarding the literature on hearing aids' use and cognition, although the lack of interventional studies has to be underlined, observational data suggest that hearing aids positively impact long-term cognition, even though more research is necessary to ascertain this statement and provide information on the length or frequency of use required in order to observe benefits. Regarding cochlear implants in elders experiencing more severe auditory deprivation, the literature is scarcer. The available studies have many limitations and do not allow the drawing of clear conclusions. Taken together, the results are encouraging. Nevertheless, because hearing loss is suspected to account for 9% of dementia cases, and also because hearing loss is one of the few potentially modifiable factors from a dementia prevention perspective, the need to stimulate research to have clearer knowledge of the benefits of treating hearing loss on cognitive outcomes is urgent.
听力损失是老年人中第三大常见的健康问题。近年来，研究一直报告听力损失与心理健康结果之间存在关联，包括较差的认知表现。几项研究已直接或间接地探讨了治疗老年人听力损失是否能改善认知。本综述旨在综合这些结果。关于助听器使用与认知的文献，虽然必须强调缺乏干预性研究，但观察数据表明助听器对长期认知有积极影响，不过仍需要更多研究来证实这一说法，并提供关于观察到益处所需的使用时长或频率的信息。对于经历更严重听觉剥夺的老年人使用人工耳蜗的情况，相关文献较少。现有研究有许多局限性，无法得出明确结论。总体而言，结果令人鼓舞。然而，由于据推测听力损失占痴呆病例的9%，而且从痴呆预防的角度来看，听力损失是少数几个可能可改变的因素之一，因此迫切需要推动研究，以便更清楚地了解治疗听力损失对认知结果的益处。
