What Is Auditory Memory, And How Does It Work?

Memory refers to the processes by which the brain absorbs, encodes, stores, and recalls information. There are many different types of memory, which are categorized according to how information is taken in and how long it’s stored. Auditory memory refers to how an individual is able to receive, process, and store what they hear. Let’s take a closer look at how this mechanism works, why it’s important, and what to look for when it comes to disorders related to auditory memory.

What is auditory memory?

Auditory memory is a form of short-term, working memory formed around words or sounds we hear. Working memory is intended to hold information temporarily while the brain looks for patterns and connections within it. Whether it’s sounds, words, numbers, or spoken instructions, when information is gained by listening, it’s auditory memory in action. 

That’s because auditory memory allows us to do things like follow instructions, take notes, and retain facts and information given orally. Auditory memory skills mostly develop between the ages of two and six, and they tend to naturally decline somewhat once an individual reaches older adulthood.

How auditory memory works in the brain

Auditory memory is a process that begins when sound reaches the ears, and the brain then decides what to keep and what to let go of.

Echoic memory and the sensory store

Echoic memory can be seen as the first step in the process. It acts as a brief sensory store, retaining sounds and other auditory information for between two and three seconds. While this type of auditory short-term memory may seem fleeting, the rapid decay characteristics serve a purpose. At this stage, the sounds are only held onto long enough for the brain to make sense of what it’s hearing to determine if it warrants additional processing.

From sound to further processing

When the brain decides that further processing to retain information is appropriate, it focuses on connecting the sound to existing memories and experiences to add more detail and make sense of it, thereby placing it in auditory working memory. 

The brain prioritizes certain information at the expense of other information; because of this, meaningful information presented at this stage can play a key role in what the brain stores and its ability to recall sounds. For example, when familiar sounds are heard, the brain can instantly associate them with other sounds, memories, and experiences, giving them context and meaning, allowing them to be remembered for a longer period.

There may be various ways to test or measure this type of working memory. For example, a digit span test, which asks individuals to recall a series of digits, like a phone number. Another option is a listening span task, in which participants listen to sentences one at a time and decide whether each sentence makes semantic sense, while retaining the last word from each sentence for a later recall test.

Auditory memory compared to other memory systems

Auditory memory is just one type of memory system. Below, we look at other ways that memories are stored and how they compare.

Auditory memory vs visual memory

Auditory and visual memory can both play important roles in how we understand the world around us. While auditory memory uses echoic memory to initially capture sounds, visual memory uses iconic memory, which holds onto the things we see for around 300 milliseconds, a much shorter time than echoic memory. Both auditory and visual memory can be essential for learning, with visual memory playing a role in tasks like reading or recognizing faces, and auditory memory being essential for language development and listening comprehension.

Auditory and kinesthetic memory

Kinesthetic memory involves learning through movement and physical activity. It can rely on fine and gross motor skills and engages other senses, like touch. While auditory memory supports learning through what we hear, kinesthetic memory supports learning through what we do.

Auditory memory and language comprehension

Auditory memory can play a key role in understanding language. It helps people retain sounds long enough to understand their meaning, connect them to other ideas, and respond appropriately.

Spoken language and understanding meaning

Auditory memory helps us process spoken words, enabling the brain to organize and store sounds as different words and sentences to support auditory comprehension. Auditory memory can also be key to following verbal instructions, allowing individuals to retain verbal information long enough to process it, act, and respond appropriately. 

Auditory processing in children and learning

Auditory memory is one part of auditory processing, which is the brain's ability to interpret, analyze, and make sense of sounds. When challenges in this area arise, they can significantly impact learning.

Some of the auditory processing skills that may impact learning can include: 

• Auditory memory, the ability to remember things we hear
• Auditory discrimination, which is the ability to notice and distinguish between separate sounds
• Figure-to-ground discrimination, which is the ability to differentiate important sounds from background noise
• Auditory sequencing, which is the ability to understand and recall the order of sounds

Other processing abilities can also affect how efficiently sounds are perceived and interpreted, such as auditory backward recognition masking, in which a sound that follows another disrupts the ability to recognize the first.

Signs a child may struggle with auditory processing

Some signs that a child struggles with poor auditory memory skills or auditory processing can include:

• Missing or misunderstanding information because they mishear words
• Finding it difficult to express themselves clearly
• Dropping syllables from words
• Having language problems
• Mixing up similar sounds
• Having trouble rhyming
• Having a difficult time following verbal instructions
• Having trouble focusing on the teacher because they cannot filter out the background noise
• Being unable to remember song lyrics
• Having a difficult time with sentence repetition
• Remembering things better when they are written down and read rather than spoken
• Mixing up numbers in a sequence
• Mixing up syllables in a word

Many things can cause problems with auditory processing, such as: 

• Traumatic brain injury
• A neurological disorder, such as a stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, or multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Frequent ear infections in at least one ear
• Genetics

Classroom and academic impact

Auditory memory may play a key role in academic performance, especially concerning information presented orally in the classroom. Strong auditory memory supports a child’s learning by helping them retain, process, and apply what they hear in the classroom. For example, a teacher may have a child repeat a certain phrase until they master it, or learn a chant or song to remember historical facts. 

Auditory memory in daily life

Auditory memory can be an essential part of everyday functioning at work, in relationships, and in day-to-day life. Some examples can include:

• Following directions (for example, instructions for completing a work project or following driving directions)
• Recalling information from telephone calls, such as the dates and times of appointments
• Remember the names of people you just met
• Following the story in a podcast
• Remembering something your partner asked you to do

Improving auditory memory skills

Auditory processing and memory skills can be improved, and there are some tactics you can use to help you retain information and improve memory performance.

Practical exercises and strategies

Some strategies that may help improve auditory processing may include: 

• Ask speakers to slow down or repeat what they are saying if you do not understand. 
• Be aware of background noise, and take a break somewhere quiet if you feel overwhelmed.
• Turn on subtitles for movies and TV shows if you are having difficulty following what is being said.
• Don’t try to multitask; focus on actively listening to what is being said. 
• Use chunking to group information, reducing cognitive load and increasing retention.

Coping with memory issues

Memory is a diverse and complex process, but it’s generally an important part of overall well-being. If you’re experiencing memory issues of some kind, you might be feeling a mix of difficult emotions such as frustration, disappointment, or sadness. Memory concerns may also lead to mental health issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety around social interactions, or depression related to social isolation. Meeting with a healthcare professional may be helpful in cases like these. A qualified medical provider can perform an evaluation to determine potential causes and offer techniques or lifestyle changes that may help improve your memory abilities. A qualified mental health professional can help you handle the emotional and social effects that you may be experiencing as a result of memory troubles. 

If you’re interested in connecting with a mental health professional for support, you have options. If you would prefer to meet with a provider in person, you can search for one in your local area. If you would prefer to meet with someone virtually from the comfort of home, you might consider online therapy. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist whom you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or online chat to address the challenges you may be facing. Research suggests that video therapy and other virtual formats can be effective methods of therapy delivery, so you can typically pursue this option if it feels more comfortable for you.