Doctors have successfully adapted a widely used cognitive screening test to make it suitable for patients with hearing loss emphasising written instructions rather than spoken words.

The international research team, which included Australians, say their modified version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was sensitive and reliable for identifying dementia in those with age-related hearing impairment.

Lead author Professor Piers Dawes, from the University of Queensland, said more than three quarters of patients aged over 75 were affected by hearing loss.  

“Due to the design of the [original] test, examiners are unable to repeat questions, so people with hearing problems may end up with an overestimation of their cognitive impairment because they misheard or didn’t hear a question,” he said.