Effect of hearing enhancement on mental status ratings in geriatric psychiatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study looked at the impact of hearing deficits on the assessment of psychopathology in geriatric psychiatric patients.


METHODS
Psychiatric functioning and speech discrimination were measured in 21 elderly psychiatric patients in a crossover design.


RESULTS
Patients displayed less psychopathology when tested wearing a functioning hearing aid.


CONCLUSIONS
Gradual hearing loss may confound the assessment of psychopathology in geriatric psychiatric patients.
Kreeger
J L
JL
Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo 14260.
Raulin
M L
ML
Grace
J
J
Priest
B L
BL
D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests