Beyond Hearing Loss: Key Predictors of Cognitive Decline in the Elderly

Reduced ability to communicate may result in social withdrawal and decreased emotional interaction, potentially increasing the risk of poorer mental health outcomes and early onset of dementia. The neurodegenerative process associated with aging may explain the deteriorating relationship between sensory input and cognitive function, as both are influenced by the overall decline in age-related physiological functioning. Hearing impaired persons have been suffering from incomplete hearing sounds and unclear comprehension. The previous study explained that the effortful listening to unclear sound would create difficult speech perception processing which as a result would increase cognitive load on brain activity and consume more cognitive resources storing in working memory. Eventually, the relationship between cognitive performance and hearing ability could be explained. This study aimed to assess cognitive performance among older adults and identify hearing impairment and background factors associated with the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 173 participants aged 55 to 85 years were recruited to explore cognitive performance which was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). To increase the reliability of assessment, verbal tasks and instructions were converted into written format and visual presentation on ipad screen to eliminate the influence of hearing disability. This study highlights a significant association between cognitive performance and various demographic and lifestyle factors among older adults with varying degrees of hearing impairment. Although MoCA scores did not differ significantly across hearing severity groups (P = .19), other variables such as age group (P = .032), engagement in cognitive leisure activities (P = .001), educational level (P < .001), and career history (P < .001) were all strongly associated with cognitive outcomes. Hearing severity reflects an individual’s ability to understand speech, which in turn influences the level of listening effort required. While MoCA scores did not differ significantly by the severity of hearing loss, it can be suggested that factors beyond auditory severity such as age, education, occupation, or lifestyle may also contribute significantly to cognitive performance. These findings emphasize the importance of considering non-auditory factors in the early identification and intervention of cognitive decline, particularly in aging populations.