Could your forgetfulness be caused by hearing loss? Discover the causes and effects of hearing loss on memory function right away.
Untreated hearing loss is well known to alter stress and anxiety levels, but did you know it can also affect your memory? The most significant of the adverse effects of diminished hearing function is memory loss, which is only one of them.
Memory loss not only significantly affects your self-esteem and way of life, but it’s frequently mistaken for the beginning of dementia. For instance, if you experience age-associated hearing loss, a subsequent decline in memory function may not always be connected to hearing problems. But there’s a significant probability that your hearing impairment is affecting your memory and recall.
Does hearing loss affect your memory?
There is evidence to support the influence of hearing loss on memory. In fact, it is thought that hearing loss might have a variety of effects on memory. It’s vital to consider the total influence that hearing loss might have on an individual in order to comprehend why hearing function affects memory.
1. Concentration
You will need to concentrate considerably more when you have hearing loss in order to hear sounds. When you are conversing with someone, for instance, your focus is on trying to understand and decipher what they are saying. The brain is therefore less concerned with actually remembering the material.
The brain doesn’t store the knowledge because it takes more effort to merely pay attention to the talk. Cognitive overload occurs when the brain is working too hard to listen to and understand noises and also remember the information. Naturally, if you try to recall the specifics of the conversation, the knowledge is just not there and cannot be remembered.
Although it may seem that your brain is having trouble retaining what you’ve heard, it hasn’t even gotten that far. You won’t have the information necessary for your brain’s recall function to function properly as a result. The information is not available for processing, even if the mechanism is still working.
2. Isolation
Isolation and loneliness are frequent consequences of untreated hearing loss. People with untreated hearing loss or tinnitus frequently find it difficult to socialise as much.
Your brain is exposed to fewer stimuli when you’re alone. As a result, it doesn’t have to exert itself as much and slows down. The brain may even begin to shrink as a result of these structural alterations. Your memory function is less likely to be used frequently when you’re isolated, which lowers its capacity. Naturally, this has a detrimental effect on how well it performs. Your memory’s diminished capacity makes it more difficult for you to recall knowledge when you need to.
3.Anxiety and depression
If hearing loss is not properly managed, there is a higher chance that emotional and psychological problems will arise. The mental health of many people is negatively impacted by covert hearing loss, with a considerable proportion of people reporting elevated anxiety and sadness.
Studies on depression have revealed that it can alter how your brain functions. Depression can affect memory, which makes it harder to remember knowledge when you need it.
Take the hearing test right away to find out if your hearing could be hurting your memory.
Identifying hearing-related memory loss
It’s crucial to get medical help if you’re having memory problems. Even though people frequently speak with their primary care physician about memory loss, it’s a good idea to speak with a hearing care professional as well.
A quick hearing test can evaluate your hearing ability and reveal whether you have any sort of hearing loss. Hearing-related memory loss can occur in the absence of moderate or severe hearing loss, since even very mild hearing loss can lead to cognitive overload.
In fact, you can become conscious of your memory loss before you realise any hearing loss. It may take some time before the loss of hearing function truly has an influence on a person’s daily life because many people feel it gradually. While you may be aware of your memory problems, you might not be aware of how much concentration is required to do things like follow a conversation or listen to sounds, for example.
One of the reasons why it’s so crucial to have regular hearing examinations is because of this. Your hearing care specialist can determine whether or not you have hearing loss by performing a non-invasive assessment, such as a pure tone audiometry hearing test.
Treating and preventing memory loss
When memory loss is caused by hearing loss, the problem can usually be corrected quickly and simply. You can improve your hearing function, for instance, by wearing hearing aids. Because the brain no longer has to work hard only to pick up and analyse sounds, this reduces cognitive overload. As a result, your brain is able to process information normally, and the knowledge is then stored in your memory, ready to be retrieved as required.
Wearing hearing aids also significantly lowers the likelihood of social isolation. People are able to maintain their normal lifestyles while wearing hearing aids, which allows them to stay social and active. Similar to how they lessen the impact of hearing loss, hearing aids also lower anxiety and depressive symptoms.
This protects your brain from long-term structural changes brought on by despair, solitude, and decreased exercise. Your memory and brain are still being used as you maintain your lifestyle. As a result, your capacity for understanding, storing, and recalling information is unchanged. The best way to deal with memory loss caused by hearing loss is to have a hearing test and receive proper treatment. However, you don’t have to wait until you start to notice a decline in memory function to see a hearing care specialist. Regular hearing function testing allows for the fast identification and treatment of any potential hearing problems, lowering the likelihood of any ensuing memory loss.
Take the hearing test right away to learn more and find out if you might have hearing loss.
