Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review
Abstract Objective To summarize the evidence for the associations between hearing loss and mental health and cognitive function in Africa. Methods This systematic review was prepared following the PRISMA guidelines. Cohort, case‒control and cross-sectional studies were considered for inclusion if th...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21548-3 |
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| author | Abdulazeez Ahmed Fatimah Tsiga-Ahmed Nafisatu Bello-Muhammad Abdulrazaq Ajiya Mustapha Gudaji Denes Stefler |
| author_facet | Abdulazeez Ahmed Fatimah Tsiga-Ahmed Nafisatu Bello-Muhammad Abdulrazaq Ajiya Mustapha Gudaji Denes Stefler |
| author_sort | Abdulazeez Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To summarize the evidence for the associations between hearing loss and mental health and cognitive function in Africa. Methods This systematic review was prepared following the PRISMA guidelines. Cohort, case‒control and cross-sectional studies were considered for inclusion if they reported the prevalence of any mental health conditions or levels of cognitive functioning among persons with hearing loss/deafness in comparison to those without hearing loss. No age restriction was applied. Articles not published in English or not from the African subcontinent were excluded. The initial search yielded a total of 2,822 articles from electronic databases. After title, abstract and full-text screening, seven articles were found to be eligible, with a total of 2,761 participants across Africa. Results Five studies reported that hearing difficulties were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of poor mental health. Two studies reported on cognition, one on higher odds (2.22; 95%CI) of developing cognitive decline among persons with hearing difficulties than among those with normal hearing. The majority of studies were conducted among special populations (i.e., retirement homes and special schools), with most participants being female. Conclusion This study revealed an increased risk of mental health disorders and/or cognitive decline for people with hearing impairment in African populations. However, the number of relevant studies is small, and more research is needed to provide evidence for public health interventions across the continent. Trial registration PROSPERO—CRD42024520957. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5c9856318322425295aa1155f3e543dc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c9856318322425295aa1155f3e543dc2025-01-26T12:56:25ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21548-3Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic reviewAbdulazeez Ahmed0Fatimah Tsiga-Ahmed1Nafisatu Bello-Muhammad2Abdulrazaq Ajiya3Mustapha Gudaji4Denes Stefler5Departments of Otolaryngology, Bayero University & Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalDepartment of Community Medicine & Public Health, Bayero University & Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology, Bayero University & Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology, Bayero University & Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Bayero University & Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College LondonAbstract Objective To summarize the evidence for the associations between hearing loss and mental health and cognitive function in Africa. Methods This systematic review was prepared following the PRISMA guidelines. Cohort, case‒control and cross-sectional studies were considered for inclusion if they reported the prevalence of any mental health conditions or levels of cognitive functioning among persons with hearing loss/deafness in comparison to those without hearing loss. No age restriction was applied. Articles not published in English or not from the African subcontinent were excluded. The initial search yielded a total of 2,822 articles from electronic databases. After title, abstract and full-text screening, seven articles were found to be eligible, with a total of 2,761 participants across Africa. Results Five studies reported that hearing difficulties were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of poor mental health. Two studies reported on cognition, one on higher odds (2.22; 95%CI) of developing cognitive decline among persons with hearing difficulties than among those with normal hearing. The majority of studies were conducted among special populations (i.e., retirement homes and special schools), with most participants being female. Conclusion This study revealed an increased risk of mental health disorders and/or cognitive decline for people with hearing impairment in African populations. However, the number of relevant studies is small, and more research is needed to provide evidence for public health interventions across the continent. Trial registration PROSPERO—CRD42024520957.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21548-3Hearing lossCognitive declineMental healthAfricaSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Abdulazeez Ahmed Fatimah Tsiga-Ahmed Nafisatu Bello-Muhammad Abdulrazaq Ajiya Mustapha Gudaji Denes Stefler Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review BMC Public Health Hearing loss Cognitive decline Mental health Africa Systematic review |
| title | Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review |
| title_full | Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review |
| title_short | Association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in Africa: A systematic review |
| title_sort | association of hearing loss with cognitive function and mental health in africa a systematic review |
| topic | Hearing loss Cognitive decline Mental health Africa Systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21548-3 |
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