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The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a meta-analysis in adults
Taljaard DS, Olaithe M, Brennan-Jones CG, Eikelboom RH, Bucks RS.. Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery, 2016-02-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective Hearing loss affects over 1.23 billion people globally. It has been proposed that hearing impairment negatively impacts on cognition. Some studies have demonstrated a faster rate of decline in cognition, and increased risk of incident all-cause dementia. This finding is not ubiquitous. This study used meta-analysis to examine the evidence-base regarding the relationship between hearing and cognition. Design A systematic review of the literature and meta-analyses of study findings were conducted. Published and grey literature was reviewed. Papers were included if they studied the relationship between hearing and cognition in adults with and without hearing impairment. Main outcome measures Meta-analyses examined evidence for and against seven questions. Is cognition poorer in individuals with normal hearing compared to (i) untreated or (ii) treated hearing impairment, is cognition associated with degree of hearing impairment in (iii) untreated and/or (iv) treated hearing, is cognition (v) different in untreated compared to treated hearing impairment, (vii) does cognition improve after intervention, and (vii) how is hearing impairment differentially associated with cognitive ability across six domains of cognition? Results The 33 included studies contributed 40 samples, with a total of 602 participants with untreated hearing impairment, 672 participants with treated hearing impairment, 176 healthy controls, and 4260 individuals with a range of hearing impairment with/without treatment. The results demonstrated that cognition is significantly poorer in (i) individuals with untreated hearing and remains poorer in (ii) treated hearing impairment compared to normal hearers. The degree of cognitive deficit is significantly associated with the degree of hearing impairment in both (iii) untreated and (iv) treated hearing impairment. Furthermore, (v) hearing intervention significantly improves cognition. Finally, (vii) hearing impairment impacted on all domains of cognition. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that hearing impairment is associated with cognitive problems. However, due to diversity within studies, small sample sizes, the failure to control for premorbid and other health factors, this conclusion may be premature.
Key findings
- Some studies have demonstrated a faster rate of decline in cognition, and increased risk of incident all-cause dementia.
- Is cognition poorer in individuals with normal hearing compared to (i) untreated or (ii) treated hearing impairment, is cognition associated with degree of hearing impairment in (iii) untreated and/or (iv) treated hearing, is cognition (v) different in untreated compared to treated hearing impairment, (vii) does cognition improve after intervention, and (vii) how is hearing impairment differentially associated with cognitive ability across six domains of cognition?
- Results The 33 included studies contributed 40 samples, with a total of 602 participants with untreated hearing impairment, 672 participants with treated hearing impairment, 176 healthy controls, and 4260 individuals with a range of hearing impairment with/without treatment.
- The results demonstrated that cognition is significantly poorer in (i) individuals with untreated hearing and remains poorer in (ii) treated hearing impairment compared to normal hearers.
- The degree of cognitive deficit is significantly associated with the degree of hearing impairment in both (iii) untreated and (iv) treated hearing impairment.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis examined whether hearing impairment is linked to poorer cognition and faster cognitive decline, noting that some studies found increased risk of incident all-cause dementia but this finding was not universal. It does not establish that treating hearing loss prevents or cures Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants602
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 65/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Clinical Otolaryngology: journal h-index 110 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 602 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 218 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.2 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 53 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Romola Starr Bucks: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Western Australia: institution h-index 1,026 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26670203) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 65 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/coa.12607
- PubMed: 26670203
- Original source →
- Free full text: UpSpace Institutional Repository (University of Pretoria) →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Taljaard, D. S., Olaithe, M., Brennan-Jones, C. G., Eikelboom, R. H., & Bucks, R. S. (2016). The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a meta-analysis in adults. Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.12607
Vancouver
Taljaard DS, Olaithe M, Brennan-Jones CG, Eikelboom RH, Bucks RS. The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a meta-analysis in adults. Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery. 2016. doi:10.1111/coa.12607. PMID: 26670203.
BibTeX
@article{taljaard2016-26670203,
author = {Taljaard, D. S. and Olaithe, M. and Brennan-Jones, C. G. and Eikelboom, R. H. and Bucks, R. S.},
title = {{The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a meta-analysis in adults}},
journal = {Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology \& Cervico-Facial Surgery},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1111/coa.12607},
pmid = {26670203},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.12607}
}
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