Effingham, Mt. Vernon, Greenville, Highland Call: 618-816-0715
Shiloh, Edwardsville, Columbia, Breese, Jerseyville Call: 618-628-0715

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Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

National Sleep Awareness Week reminds us that it is important to give our bodies adequate amounts of sleep each night to promote good overall health.

Researchers remind us of the impact sleep has on memory. According to Dr. Jose Colon (NBC 2, 2017), “sleep deprivation can affect both short term and long term memory.” In REM sleep, memories are consolidated with emotions, which helps form long term memories. Interrupted sleep due to sleep disorders may impact the REM cycle, causing memory trouble. If you are having trouble sleeping, it is critical to see a Sleep Medicine specialist to evaluate possible sleep disorders (NBC 2, 2017).

Recent research at Northwestern University shows that pink noise synced to brain waves may possibly deepen sleep and triple memory scores in older adults. A new study reports that gentle sound stimulation, synchronized to the rhythm of brain waves, was able to significantly enhance deep sleep in older adults and improved their ability to recall words. With more studies, researchers hope to make new technology available for home use (Science Daily, 2017).

Remember, doctors recommend between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. The shorter the sleep time, the more it may affect long term and short term memory. If you are struggling to sleep at night, schedule a visit with your physician to see if help is available!

References
NBC 2. (2017). Health Matters: How sleep improves memory. Retrieved March 14, 2017, from http://www.nbc-2.com/story/34767757/heatlth-matters-how-sleep-improves-memory

Science Daily. (2017). Science News: Sound waves boost older adults’ memory, deep sleep. Retrieved March 14, 2017, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170308081024.htm

Picture of Beth Fernandez, AuD
Beth Fernandez, AuD

Dr. Beth Fernandez is an audiologist who specializes in adult and pediatric diagnostics and adult hearing aid fitting and verification. Dr. Fernandez possesses a passion for improving the quality of life of individuals with hearing loss and tinnitus and employs the latest in evidence-based hearing aid fitting procedures in order to maximize patient outcomes.

In 2005, she graduated summa cum laude with her bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. She then obtained her doctorate in audiology from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009. Dr. Fernandez is an advocate for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and her clinical services include hearing conservation counseling and the fitting of custom hearing protection, swimplugs, and earbuds. In addition, she provides in-office treatment for positional vertigo. Dr. Fernandez enjoys sharing her passion for the profession of audiology through teaching and public outreach.

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Effingham, Mt. Vernon, Greenville, Highland
Call: 618-816-0715

Shiloh, Edwardsville, Columbia, Breese, Jerseyville
Call: 618-628-0715