Screening tools for the identification of dementia for adults with age-related acquired hearing or vision impairment: a scoping review
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TextManchester International Psychogeriatrics: page 1 of 14 © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017Subject(s): Online resources:
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Cognitive screening and sensory impairment (July 2017)Abstract: Background: Cognitive screening tests frequently rely on items being correctly heard or seen. We aimed to
identify, describe, and evaluate the adaptation, validity, and availability of cognitive screening and assessment
tools for dementia which have been developed or adapted for adults with acquired hearing and/or vision
impairment.
Method: Electronic databases were searched using subject terms “hearing disorders” OR “vision disorders”
AND “cognitive assessment,” supplemented by exploring reference lists of included papers and via
consultation with health professionals to identify additional literature.
Results: 1,551 papers were identified, of which 13 met inclusion criteria. Four papers related to tests adapted
for hearing impairment; 11 papers related to tests adapted for vision impairment. Frequently adapted tests
were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA).
Adaptations for hearing impairment involved deleting or creating written versions for hearing-dependent
items. Adaptations for vision impairment involved deleting vision-dependent items or spoken/tactile versions
of visual tasks. No study reported validity of the test in relation to detection of dementia in people with
hearing/vision impairment. Item deletion had a negative impact on the psychometric properties of the test.
Conclusions: While attempts have been made to adapt cognitive tests for people with acquired hearing and/or
vision impairment, the primary limitation of these adaptations is that their validity in accurately detecting
dementia among those with acquired hearing or vision impairment is yet to be established. It is likely that the
sensitivity and specificity of the adapted versions are poorer than the original, especially if the adaptation
involved item deletion. One solution would involve item substitution in an alternative sensory modality
followed by re-validation of the adapted test.
Background: Cognitive screening tests frequently rely on items being correctly heard or seen. We aimed to
identify, describe, and evaluate the adaptation, validity, and availability of cognitive screening and assessment
tools for dementia which have been developed or adapted for adults with acquired hearing and/or vision
impairment.
Method: Electronic databases were searched using subject terms “hearing disorders” OR “vision disorders”
AND “cognitive assessment,” supplemented by exploring reference lists of included papers and via
consultation with health professionals to identify additional literature.
Results: 1,551 papers were identified, of which 13 met inclusion criteria. Four papers related to tests adapted
for hearing impairment; 11 papers related to tests adapted for vision impairment. Frequently adapted tests
were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA).
Adaptations for hearing impairment involved deleting or creating written versions for hearing-dependent
items. Adaptations for vision impairment involved deleting vision-dependent items or spoken/tactile versions
of visual tasks. No study reported validity of the test in relation to detection of dementia in people with
hearing/vision impairment. Item deletion had a negative impact on the psychometric properties of the test.
Conclusions: While attempts have been made to adapt cognitive tests for people with acquired hearing and/or
vision impairment, the primary limitation of these adaptations is that their validity in accurately detecting
dementia among those with acquired hearing or vision impairment is yet to be established. It is likely that the
sensitivity and specificity of the adapted versions are poorer than the original, especially if the adaptation
involved item deletion. One solution would involve item substitution in an alternative sensory modality
followed by re-validation of the adapted test.