What are the Correlates of Hearing Aid Use for People Living With Dementia?

Abstract

Objectives: To identify correlates of hearing aid use in people with dementia and age-related hearing loss. Methods: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of predictor variables from 239 participants with dementia and hearing loss in the European SENSE-Cog Randomized Controlled Trial (Cyprus, England, France, Greece, and Ireland). Results: In multivariate analysis, four variables were significantly associated with hearing aid use: greater self-perceived hearing difficulties (OR 2.61 [CI 1.04−6.55]), lower hearing acuity (OR.39 [CI.2−.56]), higher cognitive ability (OR 1.19 [CI 1.08−1.31]), and country of residence. Participants in England had significantly increased odds of use compared to Cyprus (OR.36 [CI.14−.96]), France (OR.12 [CI.04−.34]) or Ireland (OR.05 [CI.01−.56]) but not Greece (OR 1.13 [CI.42–3.00]). Conclusions: Adapting interventions to account for cognitive ability, country of residence, self-perceived hearing difficulties, and hearing acuity may support hearing aid use in people with dementia.