Daily HealthBeat Tip

Can you repeat that?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

The hard of hearing may also be hard of remembering. A study in Current Directions in Psychological Science shows older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss may use so much brainpower trying to hear correctly that their ability to remember what they heard suffers.

The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, showed even when older adults hear words well enough to repeat them, they often have difficulty memorizing or remembering the words. The study's lead author, Arthur Wingfield of Brandeis University:

"If you're at a party, a noisy dinner party, and someone's asking you questions, you might suggest you move off to a quieter part of the room." (9 seconds)

Wingfield also advises using hearing aids, when needed, and not being afraid to tell people to speak up or speak slower.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: October 26, 2005

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