Study of working memory in the elderly and their influence on the use of acoustic stimulation with hearing aids

Abstract

This project addresses the relationship between age-related hearing loss in the elderly with cognition, education, mood and quality of life. The rationale for this research is the increase in life expectancy around the world and the low educational level of the elderly, especially in developing countries such as Brazil, and its consequent impact on health, mood and cognition. Objective: To examine the relationship between working memory and the benefit in mood and quality of life promoted by acoustic stimulation through the use of hearing aids in hearing impaired elderly and its relation with sex, age, education and socioeconomic status. Method: Fifty patients with hearing loss (over the age of 59 years), seen consecutively, will be invited to participate in this repeated measured study (baseline and after 4 months). The control group should not have hearing complaints. All will be evaluated through a battery of auditory, cognitive (all working memory subsystems and screening for dementia), mood and quality of life measures. After the baseline session, participants with hearing loss will receive free hearing aids. Participants considered without hearing loss will not suffer any intervention in this period. Four months after the baseline session, all participants will be re-evaluated. (AU)