In a separate study, researchers at Brandeis University concluded that aging adults with moderate hearing loss may spend cognitive energy on hearing accurately to the extent that their ability to remember spoken language suffers (Medical, 2005).
Although the studies above may have determined that age has some effect on loss of cognitive function, no definitive determination has been made as to whether hearing loss is the cause or simply a part of the reason for loss of cognitive function.
The research proposed will examine the effects of hearing loss on cognitive function regarding verbal recognition and performance of auditory processing. Whether hearing loss in individuals of any age affects their loss of cognitive function will be determined by testing 60 subjects who have experienced hearing loss due to aging or other reasons, compared to a control group of comparable subjects without hearing loss by administering the same test to them. The results should determine the extent of the effect hearing loss has on cognitive function, which is the premise of the hypothesis, and whether hearing loss is...
Separate tests may then be administered to groups divided according to age, determining whether cognitive function is affected by age, rather than hearing loss.
References
Andersson, U. 2002, Deterioration of the phonological processing skills in adults with an acquired severe hearing loss. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, Vol 14, Jul 2002, 335-352.
Balota, D.A. (Ed.). 2004, Cognitive Psychology, New York: Psychology Press.
Gates, G.A. Rees, T, S, 1997, Hear ye? Hear ye! Successful auditory aging. West J. Med. Oct. 1997, 167(4): 247-252.
McArthur, G.M. And Bishop, D.V.M. 2004. Which people with specific language impairment have auditory processing deficits? Cognitive Neuropsychology. Vol www.informaworld.com1, Feb 2004.
Medical Department. 2005, Subtle effects of hearing loss on memory and cognitive function in older adults. Brandeis University. Aug. 2005, http://www.news-medical.net/?id=12766
Weinstein, B.E., 2000, Geriatric Audiology. London:L Thieme Medical Publishers, 1st Edition.
