Does Hearing Impairment Impact Spatial Orientation, Navigation, and Rotation Abilities?


Avci N. B., ÇİÇEK ÇINAR B.

Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, vol.133, no.3, pp.330-336, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 133 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/00034894231219127
  • Journal Name: Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.330-336
  • Keywords: cognition, hearing impairment, mental imagery, spatial learning, spatial navigation
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives: Spatial cognition is a perceptual-motor function that pertains to the comprehension and processing of two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. The impairment of any sensory system can have adverse effects on cognitive functioning. The objective of this study is to examine spatial cognition in adults with hearing impairments. Methods: There were a total of 61 individuals in this study: thirty-six with hearing loss and 25 with normal hearing. The Spatial Orientation Test (SOT), the Mental Rotation test (MR), and the Money’s Road Map Test (RMT) were administered to assess participants’ spatial learning-orientation, mental imagery-rotation, and spatial navigation abilities. A high number of errors in RMT, high angle difference in SOT and a low score in MR suggest poor spatial abilities. Results: Participants with hearing loss had a greater number of RMT errors and SOT angle difference, but lower MR scores than those with normal hearing (P <.001). Hearing impairment negatively impacted all 3 spatial cognitive assessments. Hearing loss was associated with a 6.9 increase in the number of RMT errors (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4.8, 9), a 23.6 increase in the SOT angle difference (95% CI: 16, 31.2), and an 8.5 decrease in the MR score (95% CI: −10.8, −6.2). Conclusions: The study found that individuals with hearing loss exhibited lower performance in various cognitive tasks related to spatial orientation, navigation, spatial learning, mental imagery, and rotation abilities when compared to an age and sex matched control group. In future study, it is imperative to place greater emphasis on hearing loss as a potential detrimental factor in the prediction of spatial cognition impairment.