The Interaction of Hearing Loss
and Cognitive Decline

Held December 6-7, 2024 at the DoubleTree Golf Resort Palm Springs

There is compelling evidence that hearing and memory, particularly auditory memory, are correlated. This years’ seminar will review the data exploring the interaction of hearing loss and cognitive decline and will present some challenges involved in treating persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease who also have hearing loss.

Learning Objectives:
-To describe the anatomy of the auditory and memory systems.
-To demonstrate the concept of auditory working memory and how its compares with short-term memory and long-term memory.
-To summarize research on the interaction of hearing loss and cognitive decline.
-To describe the difficult nature of treating Alzheimer’s and dementia patients with hearing aids.

FACULTY

FACULTY

Maria Mody PhD- Harvard Medical School maria.mody@MGH.HARVARD.EDU

Keith Darrow PhD- Worchester State University kdarrow@worcester.edu

Kaisu Lankinen PhD- Harvard Medical School klankinen@mgh.harvard.edu

Piers Dawes PhD- University of Queensland p.dawes@uq.edu.au

Julia Sarant PhD- University of Melbourne jsarant@unimelb.edu.au  

Mark A Parker PhD- Hearing University pshs@palmspringshearingseminars.com

Laurel Christensen PhD- Resound LChristensen@gnresound.com

Erica Porter AuD- Phonak US

Navid Taghvaei, MA, AuD, ABAC, CCC-A- Signia navid.taghvaei@signiausa.com

Detailed Topics and Speaker bios can be found here

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY DECEMBER 6, 2024 (ALL TIMES ARE PST)

7-8 am Registration

 

Section I (3 hrs.) Neurobiology and Aging in the Auditory and Memory systems.

8-9:30: Parker- The Interaction Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

9:30-11: Mody- Neural Basis of Communication Disorders: Speech and language processing in neurodevelopmental disorders

 

Lunch Provided: please contact us with any dietary restrictions

 

Section II (3 hrs.) The Effects of Hearing Loss on Cognitive Decline

12-1: Sarant: Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline/Dementia: Evidence for the link between these and the effects of hearing interventions

1-2 Sarant- Cognition and Hearing Healthcare: How should we interpret the evidence to optimally support older adults with hearing loss in our practice?

2-3: Lankinen- Interactions Between the Central Auditory, Visual, Emotional, and Memory Systems

 

15 min break

 

Section III (3 hrs.) The Effects of Amplification on Cognitive Decline

3:15-4:15: Darrow- Dementia and the Role of the Hearing Healthcare Provider

4:15-5:15: Dawes: Do Hearing Loss Interventions Prevent Dementia?

5:15-6:15: Darrow: Preventing Decline: Advances in the medical treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus

 

Wine and Cheese Social: All are invited

 

SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 2024 (ALL TIMES ARE PST)

7-8 am Registration

 

Section IV (3 hrs.) Managing Patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

8-9:30 Porter- Foundations of Cognition and Hearing Loss

9:30-11: Christensen- Cognitive Considerations in Hearing Aid Fitting

 

Lunch Provided: please contact us with any dietary restrictions

 

Section V (3 hrs.). Breakout Session

12-1: Taghvaei- Understanding and Addressing the Lived Experience of Hearing Loss in Aging Adults

1-3: Parker- Listening Stations