Audiology Academy

Audiologists can play a key role in detecting early cognitive decline.   

• The slow onset of hearing loss can have a significant impact on several key brain functions, including the memory, hearing, speech and language portions of cognition.
  
  
• Hearing impairment is a greater risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia than other individual mid-life risks. The proactive management of modifiable risk factors such as hearing loss may delay or slow the onset or progression of the disease.
  
  
• Several recent studies have shown that the use of hearing aids or other rehabilitation services for hearing loss, may slow down the rapid progression of cognitive decline. 

Why Integrating Cognitive Screening into Audiology is Important

• Cognitive screening aligns with auditory performance to help hearing professionals differentiate their practice and reinforce the use of hearing aids. This may reduce the progression of cognitive decline.
  
  
• By screening for auditory issues such as high frequency loss, Audiologists can encourage the early detection of cognitive decline and potentially slow its progression.
  
  
• It is a logical extension to include cognitive screening as part of the overall testing protocol given its association with hearing loss.
  
  
• Cognivue allows Audiologists to deliver world-class patient care and service by developing and setting industry best practices with innovation and interprofessional collaboration.

 

Sources:

• Journal of the American Geriatric Society, Longitudinal Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Cognitive Function in Older Americans
• Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care
• A Review of New Insights on the Association between hearing loss and cognitive decline.