Browsing by Subject "Hearing loss"
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Item Open Access Cognitive Function and Decline Among Older Adults: The Roles of Sensory Loss and Psychosocial Factors(2019) Ge, ShaoqingIn the context of rapid global aging, cognitive decline among older adults has become a major public health and social issue. A better understanding of the risk factors for cognitive decline is important for developing interventions to preserve cognitive function among older adults. Knowledge gaps still exist in understanding the impact of sensory loss (i.e., hearing loss and vision loss) and psychosocial factors (i.e., social support and loneliness) on cognitive function and cognitive decline. This dissertation aims to fill these knowledge gaps by (1) examining the relationship between psychosocial factors and cognitive function in a unique population: community-dwelling Chinese older adults in the United States (U.S.); (2) understanding the longitudinal relationship between sensory loss and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults in the United States; and (3) exploring the mechanisms that accelerate or decelerate cognitive decline by examining the inter-relationships between sensory loss, psychosocial factors, and cognitive decline. The primary study conducted for this dissertation used structural equational modeling (SEM) to model the potential moderation or mediation effect of psychosocial factors on the relationship between sensory loss and cognitive decline over time. Findings from this dissertation deepen our understanding of the important roles that social support, loneliness, and sensory loss can play in cognitive function and decline among community-dwelling older adults. Findings from this dissertation also highlight the importance of adequately addressing the physical and psychological challenges encountered by older adults. Subsequent recommendations are provided to health providers and policy makers to help better preserve and promote cognitive health among older adults using a more holistic approach.
Item Open Access Self-reported hearing loss, hearing aid use, and cognitive function among U.S. older adults.(International journal of population studies, 2022-01) West, Jessica S; Smith, Sherri L; Dupre, Matthew EThere has been increasing attention to the role of hearing loss as a potentially modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. However, more nationally-representative studies are needed to understand the co-occurring changes in hearing loss and cognitive function in older adults over time, and how hearing aid use might influence this association. The purpose of this report is to examine how age-related changes in hearing loss and hearing aid use are associated with trajectories of cognitive function in a nationally-representative sample of U.S. older adults. We used 11 waves of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 1998 to 2018 to examine changes in self-reported hearing loss, hearing aid use, and cognitive function in adults 65 and older by race and ethnicity. Results from mixed models showed that greater levels of hearing loss were associated with lower levels of cognitive function at age 65 in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic older adults. We also found that the associations diminished across age in White and Black individuals; but remained persistent in Hispanic individuals. The use of hearing aids was not associated with cognitive function in Black older adults but appeared protective for White and Hispanic older adults. Overall, the findings from this report suggest that the timely identification of hearing loss and subsequent acquisition of hearing aids may be important considerations for reducing declines in cognitive function that manifests differently in U.S. population subgroups.Item Open Access Strategies to Scale-Up Global Access and Uptake of Hearing Screening: A Systematic Review(2023-04-18) Cionfolo, HaleyI. ABSTRACT Introduction: Although interventions to address hearing loss exist, access is inequitably distributed across geographic, socioeconomic, and racial axes globally. We sought to determine which scale-up strategies could be useful to bolster the uptake of hearing screening to reduce the global burden of hearing loss. We then provide targeted policy recommendations to aid the implementation of these strategies. Methods: After evaluating articles from five databases using our inclusion/exclusion criteria, we extracted qualitative and statistical evidence related to the uptake of neonatal, child, and adult hearing screening (NHS, CHS, and AHS), specifically their use, adherence, and satisfaction. Two reviewers independently assessed article quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (2018). We then categorized and compared the success of interventions. Results: Of the 225 articles screened, 29 studies fit our inclusion criteria. Of the 29 articles, 18 describe findings targeting NHS scale-up interventions, five CHS, four AHS, one NHS/CHS, and one CHS/AHS. Interventions assessed were educational (n=3), policy and systemic (n=3), telehealth (n=2), financial and funding (n=2), expanded screening (n=6), and restructured screening programs (n=7). The evidence from these articles suggests that restructure screening programs, the most documented intervention type, could be the most effective in increasing uptake generally and across HIC and UMIC settings, with no null results. Discussion: We recommend policies and interventions that restructure screening programs or expand their reach as strong options to allocate resources toward in both high- and low-resource settings, relative to existing intervention types previously attempted. More research pertaining to scale-up, especially in lower-income settings, is necessary, however, to make the most appropriate recommendations.