Relation Between the Prevalence of Hearing Loss, Auditory Processing Disorder, and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Older adults are known to experience communication difficulties due to hearing loss, auditory processing disorder (APD), and cognitive decline. These conditions have been found to independently or in pairs affect communication, social participation, and quality of life. However, there are limited reports on the relationship of these 3 conditions among older adults. Thus, the study aimed to determine the association between hearing loss, APD, and cognitive decline in older adults and examine the influence of age and gender. METHODS: Using the records of 1100 older adults aged 50-95 years who visited a tertiary care geriatric clinic, the data of pure-tone hearing screening, risk for APD, and cognition were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of participants referred was the highest for hearing screening (59.3%), followed by cognitive decline (55.6%), and APD (24.8%). Only 18.5% passed all 3 screening procedures, while 81.5% were referred on at least 1 screening procedure. In general, males were referred more frequently than females, with the referral rate being higher with advancement in age. Significant differences were found between APD and the other 2 screening procedures but not between hearing and cognition. The associations among the 3 screening procedures were weak to moderate, suggesting their independence. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that hearing loss, APD symptoms, and cognitive decline frequently coexist but are not strongly associated. This emphasizes that all 3 screening procedures should be performed in older adults for timely detection and management.