Check the influence of hearing aid use on cognitive screening in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss in the elderly influences their quality of life and can indirectly influence the preservation of the integrity of their cognitive system. Studies show that the use of hearing aids can be considered as a strategy to improve the quality of life of this population and also their cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of hearing aid use on the score of the cognitive performance of elderly patients after three months of using the device. Methods: descriptive, exploratory and retrospective study in a health facility, through the analysis of medical records of the elderly first users of hearing aids. There were checked: demographic data, clinical characteristics, audiometric tests, questionnaire for self assessment of hearing handicap for the elderly (HHIE-S) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in the first and second return, after delivery of hearing aids. Results: 53 elderly were adapted to the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 64 years, tinnitus and dental changes being the clinical features that stood out. There was a statistically significant difference between before and after the use of the hearing aid for HHIES, and MMSE also showed a statistically significant increase, especially for older people with higher levels of education. Conclusion: The education was a factor that interfered with cognitive examination after three months of use of hearing aids, demonstrating thr need of more longitudinal researches focusing on hearing loss and aspects of cognition in the elderly