How do I know if I have a memory problem?

• Forgetting things occasionally is normal, but it's worth speaking to someone if your memory changes are more frequent, different (for example long-term vs short-term memory), or start affecting your everyday life.
• Hearing loss can sometimes look like a memory problem. If you do not hear information clearly in the first place, it can be harder to remember it later.
• Research consistently links hearing loss with cognitive impairment and dementia risk, but hearing loss does not mean you have dementia, and the relationship is not fully understood.
• If you've noticed changes in your memory or thinking, or you're worried about a loved one, early action gives us a better chance to identify modifiable causes of cognitive decline and track your wellbeing over time.

Forgetting things occasionally is normal. We can all remember walking into a room and not remembering why we went there. Many people find they have trouble remembering names, or need to write down appointments more often than they did when they were younger.

None of those moments is cause for concern, but it is worth talking to your GP if you notice a clear change from what is normal for you, particularly if you are:

• Repeatedly forgetting recent conversations or events
• Asking the same question without remembering the answer
• Finding familiar tasks harder than they used to be
• Struggling to keep track of appointments, medication or finances
• Becoming confused in places you know well
• Noticing that people close to you are commenting on changes in your memory or thinking

Memory changes can have many different causes. Some of the most common causes are depression, thyroid or vitamin deficiencies, hormone fluctuations (particularly during peri-menopause and menopause) and medication side effects. However, they can also be a symptom of something more serious, such as Alzheimer's dementia, so it's important to be proactive and seek support as soon as possible.

Could my hearing be making my memory seem worse?

Yes, sometimes.

Imagine someone tells you an address while music is playing in the background. If hearing loss means you only catch part of what they say, your brain has incomplete information to work with. Later, it may feel as though you have forgotten the address when you never heard the whole thing clearly in the first place.

Hearing loss can also make conversations take more effort. Following speech, particularly when other people are talking or there is background noise, may require more concentration. By the end of a busy conversation or social event, you may feel tired or have a harder time remembering details.

Researchers are still working out exactly how hearing and cognition influence one another. Possible explanations include the extra mental effort involved in listening, reduced auditory stimulation, social factors and health conditions that affect both hearing and the brain.

What does the research tell us about hearing and memory?

There is good evidence that hearing loss and cognitive health are connected. Research from Johns Hopkins University found that mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia. Their 2024 study looked at more than 62,000 adults aged 45 to 69. People with objectively measured hearing loss were more likely to have cognitive impairment, and the association became stronger as hearing loss severity increased.

The 2024 Lancet Commission also identifies hearing loss as one of 14 potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia.

Despite that research, it's important to remember that correlation (associated with) is not the same as causation (the cause of). The connection between hearing and cognition does not mean that hearing loss automatically causes dementia, or that you can treat dementia by using hearing aids. It simply shows us that proactive hearing healthcare gives us a better opportunity to identify modifiable causes of cognitive decline early and track your wellbeing over time.

What should I do if I'm worried about my memory?

If you have noticed an ongoing change in your memory, concentration or ability to manage everyday tasks, it's important to make an appointment with your local audiologist or GP.

Ear360 is New Zealand's most comprehensive hearing health assessment, looking at how hearing affects other areas of your life, including memory, balance, sleep, and overall wellbeing. No matter what your results show, we'll work together to create a plan, whether that's a conversation about hearing aids, a referral to a specialist, or an appointment for a follow-up assessment in a year's time.