Hearing difficulties and memory problems: the mediating role of physical health and psychosocial wellbeing

Objective: To investigate whether the association between hearing difficulties and self-reported memory problems is mediated by physical health and psychosocial wellbeing.

Design: A cross-sectional study. Path analyses were used to test potential theoretical models (psychosocial-cascade, common cause) of the association between hearing difficulties and memory problems, adjusting for age.

Study Sample: A sample of 479 adults (18-87-years) completed self-reported outcome measures.

Results: Half the participants reported clinically significant hearing difficulties and 30% self-reported memory problems. In the direct model, reporting hearing difficulties was associated with greater likelihood of reporting memory problems (β= 0.17,p=.007, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]= 0.00, 0.01). Hearing difficulties were also associated with poorer physical health, but this did not mediate the association with memory. Psychosocial factors, however, fully mediated the relationship between hearing difficulties and memory problems (β= 0.03,p=.019, 95% CI= 0.00, 0.01).

Conclusions: Adults with hearing difficulties may be more likely to self-report memory problems, irrespective of age. This study supports the psychosocial-cascade model, as the association between self-reported hearing and memory problems were explained entirely by psychosocial factors. Future studies should investigate these associations using behavioural measures, as well as explore whether interventions can reduce the risk of developing memory problems in this population.