The Role of Sensory Impairment in Cognitive Health Appraisal: A Study of Older Korean Americans Living in Subsidized Senior Housing

Abstract

Objectives We examined how the association between cognitive performance and cognitive health appraisal would be moderated by vision and/or hearing impairment. Methods Data were collected from 315 older Korean-American residents in subsidized senior housing in Los Angeles (M age = 79.4 years). Linear regression models examined the direct and interactive effects of cognitive performance, vision impairment, and hearing impairment on cognitive health appraisal. Results Negative appraisal of cognitive health was associated with lower cognitive performance and poorer ratings for vision and hearing. Moreover, we found a significant interaction between cognitive performance and hearing impairment (beta = .13, p < .05), as well as a three-way interaction among cognitive performance, vision impairment, and hearing impairment (beta = .12, p < .05). Discussion The association between objective and subjective measures of cognition was weakened when hearing was impaired. Such a pattern was further evident when both vision and hearing were impaired.