Course introduction:

In the rapidly evolving landscape of hearing healthcare, emerging research highlights significant correlations between hearing loss, tinnitus, and consequential changes in the brain’s physiology and cognitive function. Thus, hearing healthcare providers play a pivotal role in holistic patient assessment, including hearing loss’s impact on cognition. This 1-hour course delves into crucial considerations for integrating cognitive performance into evaluating adult patients. Key topics include: 

1. Underlying Changes in Hearing and Cognition: Explore the intricate relationship between aging, hearing, and cognitive processes. 
2. Best Practices for Cognitive Screenings: Examine current best practices in cognitive screenings, navigating the terrain of objective versus subjective measurements.  
3. Referral Considerations: Learn how to identify signs of cognitive issues in patients and understand the referral considerations. Explore the process of directing patients suspected of cognitive challenges to appropriate healthcare professionals, including Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), neurologists, or geriatric specialists. 

Join us for this enlightening session, where we will collectively navigate the intersection of hearing health and cognitive well-being, empowering healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive care to their adult patients. 

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize and define the intricate relationship between aging, hearing and cognitive processes.  
• Examine current best practices in cognitive screenings, navigating the terrain of objective versus subjective measurements.  
• Identify signs of cognitive issues in patients and understand the referral considerations.  
• Implement the process of directing patients suspected of cognitive challenges to appropriate healthcare professionals, including Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), neurologists, or geriatric specialists. 
• Discuss the impact that hearing loss may have on cognition.