Depressive symptoms and the impact on hearing rehabilitation

Hearing loss alters communication patterns, influences quality of life and cognitive functions. Besides, affective diseases are more frequently in hearing impaired. The impact of age has not been analyzed in detail so far. 54 bilateral severely hearing impaired (aged 66.2) were questioned regarding depressive symptoms (GDS-15), cognitive functions (ALAcog) and health related quality of life (NCIQ). 24 hearing impaired were younger and 30 older than 65. Groups did not differ in hearing abilities (p=0.08), duration of deafness (p=0.56) or education (p=0.07). No subject suffered from severe depression, the mean GDS-score was 5.86. Men and women were affected in the same way (p=0.43) as well as younger and elderly subjects (p=0.43). Individuals with a longer duration of hearing loss reported on higher DS (p=0.01), regardless of hearing thresholds (p=0.38). In younger subjects high GDS-scores correlated to poorer HRQOL (p=0.0002) and to worse performance in working memory (p=0.01), inhibitory control (p=0.02), attention (p=0.03) and executive functions (p=0.03).

Impact of depressive symptoms on HRQOL and cognition in the hearing impaired differs according to age. This should be taken into consideration in aural rehabilitation to achieve successful outcome.

Poster-PDF A-1039.pdf

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021