Investigating the impact of hearing aid use and auditory training on cognition, mood, and social interaction in older adults with hearing loss

The number of people worldwide with hearing impairment exceeds 600 million. This number is expected to rise with the aging population. The aim of this thesis is to learn how auditory training and hearing aid use, together with brain training for improved listening and speech perception, impacts on a person's cognition and psychosocial function. Results suggest that several cognitive domains are associated with speech perception and hearing loss at baseline. The hearing intervention provides evidence of reduced depressive symptoms. This important work has the potential to help millions of people worldwide not only with improved hearing but may play a part in delaying or slowing the progression of dementia.