目标:由于人口结构的变化,患有听力损失和认知障碍的老年人数量增加。两者密切相关且难以区分,因为大多数标准认知测试电池都是基于听觉的,而听力受损的个体在非听觉测试电池中的表现也较差。因此,听力受损的参考数据是强制性的。
方法:基于计算机的电池ALAcog评估多个认知领域,如注意力,(延迟)记忆,工作记忆,抑制,处理速度,心理灵活性和言语流畅性。分析了201名年龄≥50岁的双侧听力受损受试者的数据集(平均66.6(SD9.07))。LMS方法,10号的估计曲线,25日,50岁,计算了第75和第90百分位数,根据年龄分类,从50岁开始。
结果:随着年龄的增长,认知功能在所有子测试中都显示出下降,除了口语流利,随着年龄的增长几乎保持稳定。最大的下降出现在召回和延迟召回以及心理灵活性方面。年龄和听力没有相关性(p=0.68)。然而,随着人们年龄的增长,认知测试结果的受试者间变异性增加。对于抑制尤其如此。认知功能与听力无相关性(每个p≥0.13)。
结论:本研究结果提供了一种方法,可以在大样本的老年听力受损人群中建立全面的非听觉测试参考数据,该数据可以用作一种简单的工具,以更好地将认知表现置于平均和中位数分数之外。
OBJECTIVE: Due to the demographic shift, the number of older people suffering from hearing loss and from cognitive impairment increases. Both are closely related and hard to differentiate as most standard cognitive test batteries are auditory-based and hearing-impaired individuals perform worse also in non-auditory test batteries. Therefore, reference data for hearing-impaired are mandatory.
METHODS: The computer-based battery ALAcog assesses multiple cognitive domains, such as attention, (delayed) memory, working memory, inhibition, processing speed, mental flexibility and verbal fluency. A data set of 201 bilaterally hearing-impaired subjects aged ≥ 50 (mean 66.6 (SD 9.07)) was analysed. The LMS method, estimated curves for the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile were calculated, and classified according to age, starting from the age of 50.
RESULTS: Cognitive function shows a decline in all subtests as people age, except for verbal fluency, which remains almost stable over age. The greatest declines were seen in recall and delayed recall and in mental flexibility. Age and hearing ability did not correlate (p = 0.68). However, as people age, inter-subject variability of cognitive test results increases. This was especially the case for inhibition. Cognitive function was not correlated with hearing ability (each p ≥ 0.13).
CONCLUSIONS: The present results make an approach to establish reference data for a comprehensive non-auditory test battery in a large sample of elderly hearing-impaired people which can be used as a simple tool to better contextualise cognitive performance beyond mean and median scores.