The effect of hearing augmentation on cognitive assessment scores: a pilot crossover randomized controlled trial

• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Amirah Fatin, Lim Abdullah, Khatijah, Zilany, Muhammad Shamsul Arefeen, Zaidon, Ahmad Zuhair, Ong, Siew Hui, Tan, Maw Pin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Springer Verlag 2016
• Subjects: RT Nursing; TA164 Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/46937/1/46937_The%20effect%20of%20hearing%20augmentation_MYRA.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/46937/2/46937_The%20effect%20of%20hearing%20augmentation_SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/46937/19/978-981-10-0266-3_6.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/46937/; https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-0266-3_6

This randomized cross-over pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of hearing augmentation on cognitive assessment scores and duration to complete cognitive assessment among the elderly in-patients in a teaching hospital. A hearing amplifier was used for hearing augmentation and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used to assess cognition. Seventy one patients were allocated into Group A (n=33) or Group B (n=38) using block randomization. There was no significant difference in total MoCA scores with and without hearing augmentation (p = 0.622). There was a significant improvement in the total scores on the second test that suggests a learning effect (p < 0.05). There was also no significant difference in time taken to complete cognitive assessment with and without hearing augmentation (p = 0.879). Similar statistical tests performed on a subgroup of patients with hearing impairment did not reveal significant results. The results of this study will now inform a larger randomized controlled study evaluating the use of hearing amplifiers as cost-effective solutions to hearing impairment in our older population.