Sleep is critical. There’s a disagreeable feeling to waking up groggy because you got less than seven to eight hours sleep that even several cups of coffee can’t change. So you were aghast when your hearing loss started to make you lose sleep.
And that’s understandable. But there’s something that can help, luckily: a hearing aid. Based on the most recent surveys and research, these little devices can likely help you sleep better.
How is Sleep Affected by Hearing Loss?
Despite the fact that you feel fatigued all day and are exhausted by bedtime, you still toss and turn and have a difficult time falling asleep. All of these issues started around the same time you also started to notice that your radio, television, and mobile phone were becoming hard to hear.
Come to find out, you’re not imagining it. There is a well-documented connection between hearing loss and insomnia, even if the precise sources aren’t exactly clear. There are, of course, a few theories:
- As you develop loss of hearing, your brain starts straining, it’s looking for stimulus from your ears where none exists. If your brain is in overdrive trying to hear while you’re trying to sleep, your overall cycle could be disrupted (It’s the common problem of not being able to get the brain to stop).
- Loss of hearing is connected to depression, and your sleep cycle can be disrupted by chemical imbalances caused by depression. As a result of this, falling asleep and staying asleep becomes harder.
- You can lose sleep because of tinnitus which can cause humming, ringing, or thumping noises in your ears. (It can become a vicious cycle because lack of sleep can worsen your tinnitus symptoms).
Can Hearing Aids Help Your Sleep?
According to one study, 59% of people who were hearing aid users reported feeling satisfied with their sleep, in comparison to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t wear hearing aids. So are hearing aids a sleep aid or what?
well, not really. If you don’t have loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.
But if you suffer from hearing loss related insomnia, hearing aids could help in multiple critical ways:
- Isolation: If you’re out on the town, interacting with the people in your social group, you’re less likely to feel depressed and isolated. Hearing aids make building relationships less difficult (this can also diminish “cabin fever”-related sleep cycle problems).
- Strain: The damage on your brain will essentially diminished by wearing hearing aids. And your brain won’t be as likely to strain while falling asleep if it isn’t straining all of the rest of the time.
- Tinnitus: Hearing aids may 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 short circuiting that vicious cycle.
Getting Better Night Sleep Using Hearing Aids
It isn’t just how many hours you sleep that’s important here. In order for your sleep to be really refreshing, it’s important that you reach a certain level to your z’s. Hearing loss can work against that deep sleep, and hearing aids, therefore, can improve your ability to get restful sleep.
It’s important to note that while they’ll help improve your sleep, the majority of hearing aids are not supposed to be used at night. When you’re sleeping they won’t help your hearing (you won’t be capable of hearing your alarm clock better, for instance). And your hearing aids can definitely wear out quicker if you use them at night. It’s using them during the day that helps you get better sleep.
Go to Bed!
Getting a restful night’s sleep is a valuable thing. Your immune system, your stress levels, and your ability to think clearly will all be benefited by sufficient sleep. Proper sleep habits have even been linked to lower risks for diabetes and heart disease.
When your sleep schedule is disturbed by your loss of hearing, the problem becomes more than irritating, insomnia can frequently result in serious health problems. Luckily, people report having better quality sleep when they use hearing aids.