What is the term used when a person has difficulty recalling facts after several years?

The term "fading" is commonly used to describe the phenomenon where memories become less clear or are more difficult to access over time. This aligns with the understanding of memory in cognitive psychology, which suggests that the ability to recall information can diminish due to the natural processes of forgetting that occurs as time passes. Fading relates to the gradual loss of memory strength and accessibility, impacting how easily one can retrieve specific information that was once learned.

This concept is especially relevant when discussing long-term memory, as memories can fade if they are not revisited or reinforced over time. It highlights the idea that, even if a person learned the information at one point, the passage of time can diminish their ability to recall those facts clearly or accurately.

In contrast, the other terms such as repression, poor retention, and memory lapse may describe different aspects of memory issues but do not specifically encapsulate the idea of long-term fading of memories as effectively as "fading" does. Repression, for instance, often refers to the unconscious blocking of memories, typically those that are distressing. Poor retention indicates challenges during the initial encoding process, while memory lapse describes moments of forgetfulness that could be temporary and not necessarily related to the duration of time elapsed.