Chris has been a bit forgetful recently. She missed her doctor’s appointment two months in a row (time to reschedule again). And she even forgot to run the dishwasher before going to bed (I guess this morning she will need to handwash her coffee cup). Things have been getting lost lately. Strangely, Chris doesn’t actually feel forgetful…she just feels mentally drained and exhausted constantly.
Only when that feeling is sneaking up on you, will you begin to realize it. Often, though, the trouble isn’t your memory, despite how forgetful you might appear. Your hearing is the actual problem. And that means you can considerably improve your memory by using one little device.
How to Improve Your Memory And Overall Cognitive Function
So, the first step you can take to improve your memory, and getting everybody’s name right at your next meeting or to make sure you arrange that day off for your dentist appointment, is to have your hearing tested. If you have hearing loss a hearing exam will let you know how severe your impairment is.
Chris hesitates, though, because she hasn’t noted any symptoms or signs of hearing loss. She can hear in noisy rooms fairly well enough. And she’s never had a tough time hearing any of her team members at work.
But she could have some degree of hearing loss even though she hasn’t noticed any symptoms yet. Actually, one of the first signs of hearing impairment is loss of memory. And strain on the brain is the root cause. Here’s how it works:
- Gradually and almost imperceptibly, your hearing begins to diminish.
- However mild, your ears begin to notice a lack of sound input.
- Your brain begins working a little harder to translate and boost the sounds you are able to hear.
- You can’t notice any real difference but in order to comprehend sound your brain has to work overtime.
That kind of constant strain can be really difficult on your brain’s finite resources. So things like cognitive function and memory get pushed to the back.
Hearing Loss And Dementia
When memory loss is extreme, the result could be dementia. And there is a connection between hearing loss and dementia, though what the specific cause-effect relationship is, continues to be rather uncertain. Still, there is an elevated danger of cognitive decline with people who have untreated hearing loss, starting with some minor memory issues and escalating to more extreme cognitive problems.
Hearing Aids And Preventing Fatigue
This is why it’s essential to treat your hearing loss. Significant increase in cognitive function was noted in 97.3% of individuals with hearing loss who wore hearing aids for at least 18 months according to one study.
Similar results have been seen in various other studies. Hearing aids are really helpful. Your general cognitive function increases when your brain doesn’t have to struggle as hard to hear. Sure, a hearing aid isn’t an absolute cure, cognitive decline or memory problems can be a complicated mixture of factors and elements.
Memory Loss Can be The First Signal of Hearing Loss
This sort of memory loss is usually temporary, it’s an indication of mental fatigue more than an underlying change in how your brain operates. But that can change if the underlying issues remain neglected.
So if you’re noticing some memory loss, it can be an early sign of hearing loss. You should make an appointment with your hearing professional as soon as you notice these symptoms. As soon as your fundamental hearing issues are dealt with, your memory should return to normal.
And your hearing will probably get better as well. The decline in your hearing will be slowed significantly by wearing hearing aids. In this way, your total wellness, not just your memory, could be improved by these little devices.