Holland (2009) notes that degraded sensory input from eyes and ears, when combined with degraded impulses from the end-organs to the brain and processing demands within the brain all contribute to cognitive decline. She notes that when sensory input is degraded, people need to spend so much effort hearing, that there may not be enough cognitive ability left to process or store information. The author also notes that two factors present in all perceptual situations that likely interact and result in slower processing, decision making, and reactions.

1. Age-related declines in sensory perception (hearing and vision).
2. Age-related declines in central information processing (cognition).

Holland reports that some authors have previously stated the majority of age-related differences in intellectual functions are “related to differences in vision or auditory function.” Among the possible explanations, she reports continual sensory impoverishments from reduced, degraded, and impaired visual and hearing systems gradually reduces the sum-total cognitive stimulation people receive, resulting in a permanent reduction of cognitive function. Further, as people age, they are more likely to expend significant cognitive effort to make sense of peripherally impoverished information, termed “cognitive permeation hypothesis.” Thus, older people use more cognitive resources to process and store information than younger people to compensate for visual and auditory impairment.

For More Information, References, and Recommendations:

Holland CA. (2009) The Relationships Between Sensory and Cognitive Decline in Older Age. ENT & Audiology News. (18)4:94-95.

Comment by Dr. Sims:

“The conclusions reached by this report are well supported by multiple researchers and they clearly indicate how critical it is for people who have hearing loss to wear appropriate hearing aids”.