Cognitive abilities and performance in the temporal ordering tests for elderly people

ABSTRACT

Purpose  To investigate the influence of cognitive domains on the performance of the pitch pattern sequence and duration pattern sequence tests among elderly people.

Methods  Cross-study realized among individuals aged between 60 to 79 years. We performed an interview, cognitive evaluation through Montreal Cognitive Assessment, peripheral audiologic evaluation (tonal and vocal audiometry) and central (pitch pattern sequence and duration pattern sequence).

Results  The study involved 58 women with average age of 66.2, and 28 men at an age average of 68.3. On the one hand, we observed that the visual-spatial abilities, attention, concentration and working memory present correlation with temporal tests in females and that language ability correlates with the standard frequency test. Among men, there was a tendency to significance in terms of visual-spatial abilities. Furthermore, women had better performance in memory ability.

Conclusion  Cognitive aspects may influence the temporal ordering tests among elderly individuals, especially females.

Keywords:
Hearing; Auditory perception disorders; Aging; Elderly; Cognition