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

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 (β =.13, p <.05), as well as a three-way interaction among cognitive performance, vision impairment, and hearing impairment (β =.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.