Course Description: Cognitive impairment, hearing loss and listening disorders often parade/masquerade as each other (Kricos, 2006). The chief complaint for many people with cognitive, hearing loss and/or listening disorders is the inability to understand speech in noise (SIN). In this class, we will discuss how SIN problems relate to potential cognitive decline. We will address Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, Suprathreshold Listening Disorders, Functional assessments, Sub-Clinical Hearing Loss and more. We will review commercially available cognitive screeners and the relationship between SIN and cognitive decline and the 12 potentially modifiable risk factors (Livingston, 2020) for dementia. Specific guidelines for programming hearing aids (for people with cognitive decline) will be addressed. A question-and-answer period will be provided, and multiple PDFs will be available.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to name two Speech in Noise tests/assessments.
2. Participants will be able to name two cognitive screeners.
3. Participants will be able to define hearing versus listening.
4. Participants will be able to recite two desirable hearing aid programming recommendations for people with cognitive decline.
5. Participants will be able to name the primary professional to whom referrals (for non-normative screening results) should be referred.

Speaker: Dr. Douglas L. Beck Au.D. F-AAA, CCC-A

Dr. Beck began his professional career in 1984 at the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles) focused on cochlear implant research and intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring. In 1988, he became Director of Audiology at Saint Louis University. In 1996, he co-founded a multi-office dispensing practice in St Louis. In 1999, he became President and Editor-In-Chief of AudiologyOnline.com. From 2008 through 2015 he also served as Web Content Editor for the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). In 2016 he was appointed Senior Editor for Clinical Research at the Hearing Review and was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor of Communication Disorders & Sciences at State University of NY at Buffalo. In 2005 Dr Beck joined Oticon and was appointed Vice President of Academic Sciences. In March, 2022, Dr Beck became Vice President of Clinical Sciences at Cognivue and he retired in June, 2023. Dr. Beck currently consults, lectures, teaches, volunteers and writes for multiple audiology, science, medical, and health[1]related professional organizations globally. Dr. Beck is among the most prolific authors in audiology with more than 221 publications. To learn more, visit his website.