Document Type

Capstone Project

Publication Date

Spring 4-20-2026

First Advisor

Shraddha Shende, B.ASLP, M.ASLP, Ph.D.

Keywords

Hearing loss, memory, older adults, dementia

Disciplines

Speech Pathology and Audiology

Abstract

Emerging research has shown links between hearing loss in older adults and memory declines; however, findings remain mixed. The present study examined differences in memory performance between older adults with hearing loss and normal-hearing peers, as well as associations between hearing ability and memory. An exploratory analysis of associations between high-frequency hearing ability and memory performance was also conducted. Participants included 38 older adults with hearing loss (n=20) and normal hearing (n=18) who completed audiologic testing and memory tasks assessing working, semantic, and episodic memory. Contrary to expectations, no significant group differences in memory performance were observed between the hearing loss and normal-hearing groups. Additionally, hearing ability, as measured by pure tone average, was not significantly associated with memory performance. However, a significant positive correlation was found between QuickSIN scores and the longest span recalled on the Forward Digit Span task, indicating that individuals with poorer hearing in noise demonstrated better working memory performance. Exploratory analyses also revealed a significant positive correlation between high-frequency hearing ability and the immediate recall condition in Craft Story 21. These findings suggest cognitive performance in individuals with hearing loss may be influenced by task demands and compensatory mechanisms, particularly in challenging listening situations.

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