The effect of early age-related hearing loss on memory and participation in social leisure activities
Age-related declines in hearing, cognition and social participation are well recognized, as are associations between hearing loss and cognitive decline, hearing loss and increased risk for social isolation, and cognitive decline and lower participation in social leisure activities (PSLA). Nevertheless, how age and the three domains of hearing, cognition, and social participation relate to one other in the same study is unclear. Behavioural measures of hearing and memory and self-reported participation in common social leisure activities from two samples of adults with hearing loss (N=297, N=273) were analysed in the current study. Structural equation modelling on both samples yielded two models with good and similar statistical properties. The two models had the following in common: age effects on hearing and memory, an effect of hearing on memory, but no direct effect of hearing on PSLA. The models differed on the direction of the path between memory and PSLA as well as the existence of the effect of age on PSLA. The majority of participants in both samples were not candidates for hearing aids, but most of those who were candidates used them. Of note, typical pure-tone average thresholds did not contribute significantly to the models, but high-frequency hearing thresholds did, suggesting that even early stages of hearing loss can increase demands on memory that in turn may deter participation in social leisure activities.