PP1330 - Repeated Cognitive Screening Considerations in Audiology Settings

Posters

Location: Halls 4EF

Lead Presenter(s)

Kayla F. Cormier, AuD

Ph.D. Student
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Contributor(s)

AS

Anu Sharma, PhD, CCC-A

Professor
University of Colorado at Boulder

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Contributor (Not Presenting)(s)

Christine Brennan, PhD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Contributor(s)

Christine Brennan, PhD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Carly Schimmel, AuD (she/her/hers)

Ph.D. Candidate
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Vinaya Manchaiah, Professor

Professor and Director of Audiology
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Abstract: Obtaining repeat cognitive measures may be of interest to audiologists given recent research into the link between hearing loss and cognition. This study examined whether repeated use of cognitive screeners results in practice effects which may artificially inflate post-treatment outcomes. A widely available cognitive screener (Cognivue) showed evidence of practice effects, while another cognitive screener (MOCA) did not show inflated scores resulting from repeated testing. Given the link between hearing loss and cognition, it is vital that audiologists understand the limitations of cognitive screeners.

Summary:

Introduction: Untreated hearing loss has recently been identified as an independent and possibly modifiable risk factor for dementia and treatment with hearing aids may result in improved cognitive abilities. Therefore, obtaining repeated cognitive measures as outcomes of hearing aid benefit has become a topic of research in the field of audiology. Cognitive screening is within the scope of practice of audiologists. The goal of this study was to examine whether repeated use of cognitive screeners results in practice effects which may artificially inflate post-treatment outcomes.

Methods: Widely available cognitive screeners (MOCA and Cognivue) were administered multiple times to participants.

Results: Preliminary results suggest that for the Cognivue screener, repeated administrations of a cognitive screener resulted in quantifiable practice effects and therefore artificially improved cognitive scores. However the MOCA, screener did not show these same practice effects.

Conclusions: Given the link between hearing loss and cognition, cognitive measurements may become more common in audiology settings. It is crucial that audiologists understand the limitations of cognitive screeners such as the possibility of artifically improved cognitive scores from practice effects.

Learning Objectives:

evaluate cognitive screeners that can be used in audiology settings.