We’ve seen many studies about the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive health. Study findings are often summarized with statistics such as “Hearing aids can slow the rate of cognitive decline by 48%.” However, there is a gap between what these statistics signify to epidemiologists, and what the public takes away from the messages. In this interactive workshop, we revisit what you learned in graduate school about epidemiologic risk at the individual and population level, and we review the various epidemiologic meanings of “prevention.” Along the way, you’ll solve problems with your seatmates.We’ll apply what we’ve learned by discussing several messages that, while technically correct from an epidemiologic perspective, may be misleading and/or of questionable relevance to the typical patient: “Hearing loss is the leading potentially avoidable risk factor for dementia,” “Hearing aids may prevent dementia”, and “Hearing aids can slow the rate of cognitive decline by 48%.”
Speaker: Jan Blustein, M.D., Ph.D.
Moderator: Brian Taylor, Au.D.
