Hearing Aids and Speech Performance in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Reed Nicholas, Jiang Kening, Huang Alison, Morales Emmanuel Garcia
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Hypothesis
How do cognitive measures and hearing aid use affect speech-in-noise performance over time in older adults?
Conclusion
The study found that hearing aids improved speech-in-noise performance in older adults, particularly influenced by baseline hearing loss and cognitive measures.
Supporting Evidence
- Hearing aids improved speech-in-noise scores from 19.0 at baseline to 21.3 at 2 months.
- Cognitive measures and hearing loss were associated with speech-in-noise performance.
- Changes in performance were linked to baseline hearing loss and cognitive function.
Takeaway
Older people with hearing loss can hear better in noisy places when they use hearing aids, especially if they have certain cognitive skills.
Methodology
The study was a randomized control trial over 3 years, measuring speech-in-noise performance at baseline, 2 months, and 3 years with hearing aids.
Participant Demographics
Median age of participants was 75.5 years, with 50.9% being female.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI ranges provided for various measures.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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