Speech perception in noise in the elderly: interactions between cognitive performance, depressive symptoms, and education

Publication date: Available online 27 April 2016
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Laura Maria Araujo de Carvalho, Elisiane Crestani de Miranda Gonsalez, Maria Cecília Martineli Iorio
IntroductionThe difficulty the elderly experience in understanding speech may be related to several factors including cognitive and perceptual performance.ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of cognitive performance, depressive symptoms, and education on speech perception in noise of elderly hearing aids users.MethodsThe sample consisted of 25 elderly hearing aids users in bilateral adaptation, both sexes, mean age 69.7 years. Subjects underwent cognitive assessment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and depressive symptoms evaluation using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The assessment of speech perception in noise (S/N ratio) was performed in free field using the Portuguese Sentence List (PSL) test. Statistical analysis included the Spearman correlation calculation and multiple linear regression model, with 95% confidence level and 0.05 significance level.ResultsIn the study of speech perception in noise (S/N ratio), there was statistically significant correlation between education scores (p=0.018), as well as with the MMSE (p=0.002), ADAS-cog (p=0.003), and GDS (p=0.022) scores. We found that for a one-unit increase in ADAS-cog score, the S/N ratio increased on average 0.15dB, and for an increase of one year in education, the S/N ratio decreased on average 0.40dB.ConclusionLevel of education, cognitive performance, and depressive symptoms influence the speech perception in noise of elderly hearing aids users. The better the cognitive level and the higher the education, the better is the elderly communicative performance in noise.



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