Hearing loss makes it harder to connect with the world around you. When you must work harder to hear you can become more fatigued, isolated and depressed. Hearing loss can also make you forgetful and struggle with memory loss.
How Hearing Loss Affects Memory 
Studies have shown that hearing loss is associated with reduced memory capacity. People with untreated hearing loss must concentrate harder to recognize sounds than those with normal hearing.Many people with age-related hearing loss start to struggle with higher frequency sounds first. This includes speech. It can become even more difficult in conversations with multiple people or in places with a lot of background noise like Paesanos.
When you are trying so hard to comprehend the words being said, your brain has less energy to focus on retaining any of the information you hear. Essentially, hearing loss is demanding more mental work than your mental abilities can handle. This is known as cognitive overload.
Hearing Loss Can Cause Isolation
When you must work hard to even follow conversations or find yourself missing more and more of what is being said, you might feel the desire to pull back from social interactions and isolate yourself. Isolation is a very common problem in people with hearing loss.
When you are isolated from others, your brain becomes less stimulated. While working too hard can negatively affect memory, the same is true if it is worked too little. Too much isolation can even lead to structural changes in the brain and can accelerate symptoms of dementia.
Treating Hearing Loss Can Help
If you are concerned about memory loss, make an appointment with your doctor. They can go over your symptoms. If they believe your memory loss is related to hearing loss they may refer you to an audiologist or you can schedule an appointment on your own.
A hearing test will be able to quickly confirm whether you are experiencing hearing loss and to what degree. If hearing loss is found, you will likely be treated with hearing aids.
If your memory loss is tied to hearing loss, hearing aids should quickly help resolve the problem. They take away the burden of having to work so hard to understand and interpret sounds. This puts less stress on the brain and leaves you much more inclined to be social and engage with others on a regular basis.
Don’t let hearing loss keep you from connecting with the world around you. Schedule an appointment with an expert at Elk Grove Hearing Care today.