Impact of central auditory processing disorder and cognitive deficit on the self-assessment of hearing handicap in the elderly.

We studied the impact of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) and cognitive deficit (CD) on the self-assessment of hearing handicap in 122 elderly subjects. Self-assessment was quantified by means of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE). Results showed that cognitive impairment exerted no significant effect on the self-assessment of hearing handicap. Subjects with CAPD, however, rated themselves as significantly more handicapped than non-CAPD subjects. Furthermore this difference did not interact with degree of loss. It was present even in subjects without significant peripheral sensitivity loss. These results support the conclusion that CAPD status is a relevant dimension in the evaluation of the elderly subject with or without peripheral hearing loss.