Title | Accuracy of self- and proxy-rated hearing among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Kim AS, Betz JF, Albert M, Deal JA, Faucette SP, Oh ES, Reed NS, Lin FR, Nieman CL |
Journal | J Am Geriatr Soc |
Volume | 70 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 490-500 |
Date Published | 2022 02 |
ISSN | 1532-5415 |
Keywords | Aged, Audiometry, Pure-Tone, Cognitive Dysfunction, Female, Hearing Loss, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Self Report, Sex Factors, United States |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults with cognitive impairment and may exacerbate neuropsychiatric symptoms and affect interactions with others. Although audiometry is the gold standard for measuring hearing, it is not always used in research or clinical settings focused on the care of individuals with cognitive impairment. Subjective assessments of hearing, both self- and proxy-rated, are widespread but may not adequately capture the presence of hearing loss as compared to audiometry. This study investigates the concordance between subjective and objective hearing assessments among older adults with and without cognitive impairment and evaluates factors associated with concordance. METHODS: Participants were a subset of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), a prospective cohort study representing four US communities with adjudicated cognitive diagnoses and audiometric data, totaling 3326 self-rated and 520 proxy-rated hearing assessments. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated, and multivariable logistic regression estimated the magnitude of the association between the concordance of hearing assessments and variables of interest. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity for self-rated hearing status were 71.2% and 85.9% among cognitively normal older adults, 61.1% and 84.9% among persons with MCI, and 52.6% and 81.2% among persons with dementia, respectively. For proxy-rated hearing, sensitivity and specificity were 65.7% and 83.3% for persons with MCI and 73.3% and 60.3% for persons with dementia, respectively. Female sex was positively associated with concordance for self-rated hearing assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The low sensitivity of self- and proxy-rated hearing assessments compared to audiometry suggests that hearing loss among older adults with cognitive impairment may go underreported and unaddressed in subjective assessments. Clinicians and researchers should recognize the limitations of using self- and proxy-rated hearing assessments as measures of hearing status and incorporate objective audiometric evaluation whenever possible. |
DOI | 10.1111/jgs.17558 |
Alternate Journal | J Am Geriatr Soc |
PubMed ID | 34813080 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8821325 |
Grant List | U01 HL096812 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01-HL70825 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096917 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States NIA K23AG065443 / NH / NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096902 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700002C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700001I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States K23 AG065443 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 HL070825 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700003I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700004I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States K23 AG059900 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096814 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States K01 AG054693 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700005C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700003C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States NIA K01AG054693 / NH / NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700001C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096899 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700004C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States NIA K23AG059900 / NH / NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700002I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700005I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States |