Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive performance in older adults with hearing loss, evaluated at a hearing health reference center, with the aim of identifying patterns and mechanisms that may guide multiprofessional interventions.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational, and quantitative study conducted with 47 older adults (≥60 years) with hearing loss confirmed by audiometry. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, along with the application of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Statistical analyses included Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests, chi-square, Student’s t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and multiple linear regression. A significance level of 5% was adopted.

Results: The sample was predominantly composed of women (51.1%), with a mean age of 74.1 years and mean schooling of 5.85 years. Most participants used hearing aids and had bilateral hearing loss. A significant negative correlation was found between GDS-15 and MMSE scores (Pearson r = -0.315; p = 0.031), indicating that higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with poorer cognitive performance. Schooling significantly influenced MMSE scores (p = 0.048), while hearing aid use and duration of hearing loss showed no significant association. The regression model explained 33.9% of the variance in cognitive performance.

Conclusion: The findings highlight an inverse relationship between depressive symptoms and cognition in older adults with hearing loss, underscoring the importance of integrated strategies addressing auditory, mental, and cognitive health in aging.

Keywords

hearing loss, cognition, depression, older adults, mental health