This study examined the relationship between cognitive functioning and self-reported sensory
functioning in a population-based (N = 3,097) survey of the elderly. Obtained were two
performance measures (a mental status examination and a recall memory test) and two
subjective measures (global self-rated memory and self-reported memoryproblems) of cognitive
function. Poorer self-rated vision was associated with poorer scores on the performance
measures; poorer self-rated hearing was associated with poorer scores on the performance and
subjective measures. Adjustment for age, educational attainment, physical health status, and
depressive symptoms accounted for most of the relationships between the performance measures
of cognition and vision and hearing function and the subjective measures of cognition and vision
function. However, subjective measures of cognitive function remained related to hearing after
adjustment. Thus clear evidence of a relationship between sensory function and cognitive
performance in a population of noninstitutionalized elderly persons was not found.
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