Not getting enough sleep can have a harmful effect on your health and vitality. If you don’t get a complete, relaxing seven to eight hours of sleep, you wake up groggy and cranky, an undesirable feeling that takes several cups of coffee to stave off. So when your loss of hearing began causing you to have insomnia, you were aghast.
And that’s understandable. But there’s a little something that can help, thankfully: a hearing aid. It’s feasible that these little devices can help you get a better night sleep, according to recent surveys.
How is Sleep Impacted by Loss of Hearing?
In recent days, you’ve noticed yourself tossing and turning more than normal, battling fatigue all day regardless of how much sleep you get, and then having a hard time falling asleep at night (despite your exhaustion). All of these issues began about the same time you also started to notice that your radio, television, and mobile phone were becoming hard to hear.
It’s not your imagination as it turns out. It’s well documented that people who have loss of hearing frequently have a difficult time falling asleep, but precisely why is not well recognized. There are, naturally, a couple of theories:
- Hearing loss is related to depression, and your sleep cycle can be interrupted by chemical imbalances caused by depression. Because of this, falling asleep and staying asleep becomes more difficult.
- As you develop loss of hearing, your brain starts straining, it’s searching for inputs from your ears where none exists. Your whole cycle could be disrupted if your brain is working overtime attempting to hear (It’s the common issue of not being able to get your brain to stop).
- Tinnitus can make you hear ringing, thumping, and humming and that noise can keep you awake at night. (It can become a vicious cycle because loss of sleep can worsen your tinnitus symptoms).
Can Hearing Aids Improve Your Sleep?
According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid users reported feeling content with their sleep, in comparison to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t wear hearing aids. So does that imply it’s safe to suppose hearing assistance devices are also a type of sleep aid?
well, not really. If your hearing is totally healthy, using hearing aids isn’t going to cure your insomnia.
But if you are suffering from hearing loss, your hearing aids can address several problems that could be contributing to your insomnia:
- Strain: Your hearing aids will essentially lessen the demand on your brain. And when your brain isn’t always struggling to hear everything around you, it won’t be as likely to keep straining while you’re trying to sleep.
- Tinnitus: Hearing aids might be a practical treatment for that ringing or buzzing, depending on the nature of your tinnitus. This can assist you to get to sleep by stopping that vicious cycle.
- Isolation: If you’re out on the town, connecting with the people in your social sphere, you’re not so likely to feel depressed and isolated. Hearing aids make retaining relationships easier (sleep cycle problems that cause “cabin fever” can also be lessened).
Using Hearing Aids to Achieve a Better Night Sleep
It isn’t just how many hours you sleep that’s important here. Depth of sleep is as essential as the number of hours. Hearing aids can enhance your ability to attain a restful nights sleep because loss of hearing without hearing aids can prevent deep sleep.
it should be mentioned that even though they’ll help improve your sleep, the majority of hearing aids are not designated to be used overnight. When you’re sleeping they won’t help you hear better (for example, you won’t hear your alarm clock better). And your hearing aids can definitely wear out quicker if you wear them during the night. It’s wearing them during the day that helps you get better sleep.
Go to Bed!
Sleep is precious. Adequate sleep can keep your immune system in fighting shape, reduce stress levels, and help you think more clearly. A decreased risk of diabetes and heart disease have also been linked to balanced sleep habits.
When your sleep schedule is disrupted by your loss of hearing, the problem becomes more than irritating, insomnia can often become a real health concern. Luckily, most surveys document that people with hearing aids have better quality of sleep.