Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28894825›Full record

ReviewLaryngoscope investigative otolaryngology2017

Hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia: A systematic review.

Rhett S Thomson, Priscilla Auduong, Alexander T Miller, Richard K Gurgel

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07782177 (Optimizing Elderly Hearing Loss Care in Hong Kong A Cost-Effectiveness and Satisfactory Analysis of a Pilot Collaborative Model Between Otorhinolaryngologists and Family Medicine Specialists), which is not on this map. Cited by 161 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
161citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
13.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07782177 not yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Optimizing Elderly Hearing Loss Care in Hong Kong A Cost-Effectiveness and Satisfactory Analysis of a Pilot Collaborative Model Between Otorhinolaryngologists and Family Medicine Specialists

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorTseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong KongRan2026 to 2028Enrolled500ConditionsHearing Loss, Age-Related, Presbycusis
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

161 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 334 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Suicidality in Individuals With Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Umbrella review and Delphi study on modifiable factors for dementia risk reduction.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2024
    Pooled it
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  8. Trial
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  10. Review
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  15. [Comparative study on hearing screening tools for the elderly population in Beijing area].Lin chuang er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery · 2026
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Evaluating the Impact of Cochlear Implantation on Cognitive Outcomes in Older Adults: A 5-Year Follow-Up.Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology · 2026
    Article
  20. Article

101 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Rhett S ThomsonDepartment of Surgery University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah U.S.A.
Priscilla AuduongDepartment of Surgery University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah U.S.A.
Alexander T MillerDepartment of Surgery University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah U.S.A.
Richard K GurgelDepartment of Surgery University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah U.S.A.
University of Utah · US

Funding

Exploring the Cognitive and Quality of Life Impact of Cochlear Implantation in Older AdultsR03AG056458 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI GURGEL, RICHARD K. · 2017 to 2018
$228k
NIA NIH HHS R03 AG056458
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo review evidence of hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia.

resultsAll of the 17 articles meeting inclusion criteria indicate that hearing loss is associated with dementia or cognitive decline. The methods used among the studies for ascertaining hearing loss and dementia were notably varied. For hearing loss, peripheral auditory function was tested far more than central auditory function. For peripheral audition, pure tone audiometry was the most commonly reported method for defining hearing loss. Only a few studies measured central auditory function by using the Synthetic Sentence Identification with Ipsilateral Competing Message test (SSI-ICM) and the Staggered Spondaic Word Test (SSW). Dementia was most often defined using the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). However, many studies used extensive batteries of tests to define cognitive status, often including a neuropsychologist. Confounding variables such as cardiovascular risk factors were measured in 17 studies and family history of dementia was only evaluated in 1 study. Overall, the methods used by studies to ascertain hearing loss, cognitive status and other variables are valid, making their evaluation appear reliable.

conclusionWhile each of the studies included in this study utilized slightly different methods for evaluating participants, each of them demonstrated that hearing loss is associated with higher incidence of dementia in older adults. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, systematic review.

Indexed as

agre‐related hearing lossAlzheimer's diseasecognitive declinedementiapresbycusis

Identifiers

PMID28894825
PMCPMC5527366
OpenAlexW2595469704

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.