Do Hearing Aids Influence Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Quality of Life in Hearing Impaired Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Their Caregivers?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Adrait, Arnaud^{a; *} | Perrot, Xavier^{b; d} | Nguyen, Marie-France^a | Gueugnon, Marine^c | Petitot, Charles^a | Collet, Lionel^d | Roux, Adeline^c | Bonnefoy, Marc^{a; e} | on behalf of the ADPHA study group¹

Affiliations: [a] Geriatric Medicine Unit, Lyon Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon1, France | [b] Institute of Sciences and Techniques for Rehabilitation (ISTR), Université Claude Bernard, Lyon1, France | [c] Clinical Research Unit, Pole IMER, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France | [d] Department of Audiology, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France | [e] INSERM 1060

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Arnaud Adrait, Geriatric medicine unit, 165 Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69230 Pierre-Bénite, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon1, France. Tel.: +33 6 68 14 49 31; E-mail: a.adrait@gmail.com.

Note: [†] The Alzheimer Disease, Presbycusis and Hearing Aid (ADPHA) study group members are listed by specialty and in alphabetical order: Geriatricians: F. Bouretet-Boutrif (Lyon Sud hospital), M.H. Coste (Lyon Pierre Garraud geriatric hospital), C. Gédéon (Lyon Sud hospital), T Gilbert (Lyon Sud hospital), L. Gonzalez (Lyon Fourvière hospital), Y. Guilhermet (Lyon Charpennes geriatric hospital), M. Haine (Lyon Sud hospital), G. Martin-Gaujard (Lyon Charpennes geriatric hospital), S. Merrot (Lyon Croix-Rousse hospital), P. Rebaudet (Lyon Sud hospital); Neurologists: B. Croisile (Lyon Pierre Wertheimer neurological hospital), P. Krolak-Salmon (Lyon Charpennes geriatric hospital); ENT specialists: G. Benarrouch (Lyon Sud hospital), J.L. Degraix (Lyon Edouard Herriot hospital), A. Margossian (Lyon Sud hospital), O. Merrot (Lyon Croix-Rousse hospital); Neuropsychologists: J.Y. Bar (Lyon Sud hospital), S. Genthon-Heyraud (Lyon Sud hospital), G. Giffard-Quillon (Lyon Pierre Garraud geriatric hospital), M. Guyon (Lyon Fourvière hospital), A. Midey (Lyon Fourvière hospital), H. Quintric (Lyon Pierre Garraud geriatric hospital); Hearing care professionals (Amplifon©): N. Bacon, E. Rauber; Research methodologists (Hospices Civils de Lyon, IMER center): L. Villeneuve, F. Chapuis, S. Bin-Dorel; L. Huot; Statisticians (Hospices Civils de Lyon, IMER center): E. Decullier; Clinical research associate: S. Richard (Lyon Sud hospital); Research technician: L. Fornoni (Lyon Sud hospital).

Abstract: Background: It has been suggested that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are commonly associated. Objective: The Alzheimer Disease, Presbycusis and Hearing Aids (ADPHA) clinical trial assessed the influence of hearing aids (HAs) on patients affected by ARHL and AD, as judged by behavioral symptoms and functional abilities, as well as patient and caregiver quality of life (QoL). Methods: A multicenter double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, with a semi-crossover procedure over 12 months, was conducted from 2006 to 2012. For the first 6 months, the active group was treated with active HAs and the placebo group with inactive HAs. For the last 6 months, HAs in the placebo group were activated. Assessment was conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We performed intergroup and intragroup comparisons. Behavioral symptoms were assessed by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), functional abilities by instrumental activities of daily living, and QoL by Zarit, Alzheimer’s disease related quality of life, and simplified Duke scales. Results: Fifty-one patients were included and randomized: 22 in active group (mean NPI 17.6; mean age 83±6.2) and 26 in placebo group (mean NPI 25.8; mean age 82.3±7.2) were fitted with HAs. At 6-month follow-up, all scores worsened without significant difference between the two groups. In placebo group, activation of HAs had no effect on the change of these scores. Conclusion: These findings do not provide evidence of improvement in behavioral symptoms, functional status, or QoL of hearing impaired AD patients and their caregivers after 6 months of HA use. However, we cannot exclude that HAs may have a positive effect in patients aged less than 75 years.

Keywords: Age-related hearing loss, Alzheimer’s disease, behavioral symptoms, hearing aids

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-160792

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 109-121, 2017