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The Age-Related Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Silent Impairment of the Cognitive Ear
Sardone R, Battista P, Panza F, Lozupone M, Griseta C, Castellana F, Capozzo R, Ruccia M et al.. Frontiers in neuroscience, 2019-06-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also called presbycusis, is a progressive disorder affecting hearing functions and among the elderly has been recognized as the third most frequent condition. Among ARHL components, the age-related central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) refers to changes in the auditory network, negatively impacting auditory perception and/or the speech communication performance. The relationship between auditory-perception and speech communication difficulties in age-related CAPD is difficult to establish, mainly because many older subjects have concomitant peripheral ARHL and age-related cognitive changes. In the last two decades, the association between cognitive impairment and ARHL has received great attention. Peripheral ARHL has recently been defined as the modifiable risk factor with the greatest impact on the development of dementia. Even if very few studies have analyzed the relationship between cognitive decline and age-related CAPD, a strong association was highlighted. Therefore, age-related CAPD could be a specific process related to neurodegeneration. Since these two disorders can be concomitant, drawing causal inferences is difficult. The assumption that ARHL, particularly age-related CAPD, may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly remains unchallenged. This review aims to summarize the evidence of associations between age-related CAPD and cognitive disorders and to define the diagnostic procedure of CAPD in the elderly. Finally, we highlight the importance of tailoring the rehabilitation strategy to this relationship. Future longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and the use of adequate assessment tools that can disentangle cognitive dysfunction from sensory impairments are warranted.
Key findings
- Since these two disorders can be concomitant, drawing causal inferences is difficult.
- The assumption that ARHL, particularly age-related CAPD, may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly remains unchallenged.
- This review aims to summarize the evidence of associations between age-related CAPD and cognitive disorders and to define the diagnostic procedure of CAPD in the elderly.
- Finally, we highlight the importance of tailoring the rehabilitation strategy to this relationship.
- Future longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and the use of adequate assessment tools that can disentangle cognitive dysfunction from sensory impairments are warranted.
Why it matters
This review states that age-related hearing loss has been defined as a modifiable risk factor with the greatest impact on dementia, but that drawing causal inferences is difficult because the two conditions can occur together. It suggests tailoring rehabilitation, but reports no treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neuroscience: journal h-index 226 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 114 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.7 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 42 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Nicola Antonio Adolfo Quaranta: h-index 43 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Bari Aldo Moro: institution h-index 586 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31258467) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00619
- PubMed: 31258467
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Neuroscience →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sardone, R., Battista, P., Panza, F., Lozupone, M., Griseta, C., Castellana, F., et al. (2019). The Age-Related Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Silent Impairment of the Cognitive Ear. Frontiers in neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00619
Vancouver
Sardone R, Battista P, Panza F, Lozupone M, Griseta C, Castellana F, et al. The Age-Related Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Silent Impairment of the Cognitive Ear. Frontiers in neuroscience. 2019. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00619. PMID: 31258467.
BibTeX
@article{sardone2019-31258467,
author = {Sardone, R. and Battista, P. and Panza, F. and Lozupone, M. and Griseta, C. and Castellana, F. and Capozzo, R. and Ruccia, M. and others},
title = {{The Age-Related Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Silent Impairment of the Cognitive Ear}},
journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.3389/fnins.2019.00619},
pmid = {31258467},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00619}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.