[Cognitive impairment in hearing impaired patients compared to normal hearing patients].

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss affects 360 million people worldwide and it is linked to cognitive impairment, which is the main precursor of dementia. Hearing loss is the major modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment. This study examines the relationship between severe/profound hearing loss and cognitive impairment in people aged 50 to 65 years.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether severe/profound hearing loss accelerates the development of cognitive impairment in patients with this condition compared to those with normal hearing or mild hearing loss. Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 254 patients. Degrees of hearing loss were assessed by tonal audiometry using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and the degree of cognitive impairment with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The variables analyzed included age, sex, schooling and socioeconomic level.

RESULTS

82.8% of patients with severe/profound hearing loss had cognitive impairment, compared to 17.2% of those with normal hearing (p < 0.001), demonstrating a highly significant association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with severe/profound hearing loss have greater cognitive impairment than those with normal hearing. Early diagnosis and treatment, such as the use of hearing aids, is key to prevent cognitive impairment and improve quality of life.