Details

Session Overview: Dr Paul Strutt will provide an overview of the major theories that seek to explain the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Dr Strutt will then discuss the novel ‘cognitive systems’ approach our research group has utilised to begin addressing questions related to the effects of hearing, communication and cognitive difficulties in older adult couples. The view explored is that there is value in thinking about people as intertwined parts of broader cognitive systems that especially involve their spouse. By this view, we rely on partners to “scaffold” cognitive processes such as memory, but may lose these scaffolding benefits if experiencing hearing loss. Dr Strutt will present research from our group that demonstrates these effects as well as the development of new assessment tools that may be helpful in identifying the impacts of hearing loss on communication and collaboration in older adult couples.

 

Presenter(s): Dr Paul Strutt

 

Event: Trans Tasman Conference 2020