Most all of us have had the experience of hearing a song and being transported back to another time. Music has the ability to elicit strong memories and trigger images and feelings of specific events. Researchers have tested this phenomenon and confirmed the power of music to trigger vivid memories.
Music and Memory Connection
A 2016 study looked at how music-evoked memories compared to memories brought back by famous faces. Participants listened to 30 songs and viewed 30 images of famous faces and reported on the memories that were brought up by both. The memories evoked by music were more vivid and contained greater detail than those that were evoked by seeing faces.
Learning an instrument can also be good for your memory. A study published in 2011 found that:
- Playing an instrument improves short-term or working memory.
- Musicians tested better than non-musicians on memory tests.
If you were ever thinking of signing up for guitar lessons at Espressivo Music, you just got another great reason to do so!
Memory and Hearing Loss
While music is associated with a stronger memory, hearing loss is associated with memory problems. This is because when you have untreated hearing loss your brain must work harder to comprehend speech and other sounds around you. When you work so hard to understand sound, it takes away from your ability to commit what you hear to memory.
Having untreated hearing loss also means you won’t be able to hear music as well as you once did. This might mean you miss out on the memory benefits that music can bring, not to mention the enjoyment that comes from listening to your favorite band or a song you love.
How Hearing Aids Can Help
Hearing aids help your memory because they take away the extra effort needed to comprehend sounds. They give you the ability to not only hear better but to process what is being said. They also help you hear music much like the way you could before hearing loss.
If you are worried about hearing loss, or even if you are unsure whether you are experiencing it, we recommend scheduling a hearing test. These are simple, painless exams that give you same-day insight into your hearing health. If you do need hearing aids, your audiologist will be with you every step of the way to help decide what best suits your lifestyle.
Don’t let hearing loss stop you from enjoying the music. Call the experts at Foothills ENT and Allergy and Hearing Center today to schedule an appointment.