Self-reported hearing difficulties are associated with loneliness, depression and cognitive dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Int J Audiol
; 61(2): 97-101, 2022 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1132306
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate whether hearing difficulties exacerbate the damaging effects of enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on isolation and loneliness, and lead to accelerated mental health issues and cognitive dysfunction.DESIGN:
Rapid online survey. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding hearing ability, socialisation (pre- and during-pandemic), loneliness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function. STUDY SAMPLE A total of 80 participants over the age of 70 with access to the internet.RESULTS:
There was a significant reduction in socialisation levels from pre-pandemic in this population. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with greater levels of loneliness, depression and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. Additionally, compared to pre-pandemic, people with hearing difficulties had increased odds of reporting worsened anxiety, depression, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic, although only the effect of hearing difficulties on the change in memory reached statistical significance after controlling for age, gender, and level of education.CONCLUSIONS:
The worse the self-reported hearing abilities are, the greater the negative impact of enforced social distancing on depression, loneliness and cognitive function.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cognitive Dysfunction
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Audiol
Journal subject:
Audiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
14992027.2021.1894492
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