Hearing loss and cognitive decline
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hearing loss and cognitive decline, the links, risks and treatment strategies.
IRAS ID
170445
Contact name
Annalena Venneri
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 2 days
Research summary
Hearing loss is generally under diagnosed but it is estimated to affect 1 in 6 people, and 2/3 of these will be over 65. One of the most common causes for hearing loss is presbycusis (age related hearing loss) which is a progressive, symmetrically loss and typically starts to occur over the 4th decade. Ageing in general is accompanied by a decline in memory and attention, but current research has shown that there may be more than just the age of a person linking hearing loss and loss of mental abilities.
This research aims to investigate the prevalence of hearing loss and decline in mental abilities in the ageing population to identify possible links between hearing status and changes in memory and attention. We can use this information to ascertain whether cognitive impairment may be more severe in people with a hearing loss and whether there are any markers that can be used to easily identify any memory decline in these people.
We will approach healthy volunteers and patients visiting memory and audiology centres to take part in the study. If they consent, they will undergo an interview which will involve collecting some demographic data, and a selection of tests including 2 short questionnaires, 1 is a brief screening of memory, language and attention and the other will be assessing subjective hearing levels. A brief battery of neuropsychological tests and an objective hearing screen will also be done. The testing will take a maximum of an hour, and can be split over 2 sessions if the participant would refer. Testing will take place at the RHH or alternatively sessions can be arranged at a venue and time more convenient for the participants. Participants will be contacted again at a later date for follow up testing.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0152
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion