Associations of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use With Cognition, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms
Lauren K. Dillard, Alex Pinto, Kimberly D. Mueller, Carla R. Schubert, Adam J. Paulsen, Natascha Merten, Mary Fischer, Ted S. Tweed, Karen J. Cruickshanks
Abstract
Objectives Determine associations of hearing loss (HL) and hearing aid (HA) use with cognition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and depressive symptoms. Methods: Participants were from the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study or Beaver Dam Offspring Study. HL was defined as pure-tone average (.5–4.0 kHz) > 25 dB. A principal component analysis of 5 cognitive tasks measured cognition. The SF-12 measured mental and physical HRQoL. The Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale measured depressive symptoms (score ≥ 16). Regression models returned beta (B) coefficients or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: This study included 3574 participants. HL (vs. none) was associated with poorer cognition (B−.12 [−.18, −.06]), mental (B−.99 [−1.65, −.33]) and physical (B−.76 [−1.50, −.03]) HRQoL, and increased odds of depressive symptoms (OR 1.49 [1.16, 1.91]). HA users had better cognition than non-users. Discussion: HL likely impacts cognition and well-being. HA use may have cognitive benefits.