Sleep is critical. There’s an unpleasant feeling to waking up groggy because you slept less than seven to eight hours that even several cups of coffee can’t help. So when your hearing loss 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. Based upon the most recent surveys and research, these small devices can probably help you sleep better.
How Does Loss of Hearing Affect Sleep?
Despite the fact that you feel fatigued all day and are completely drained 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 difficult to hear.
It’s not your imagination come to find. It’s well documented that people who have loss of hearing frequently have a difficult time falling asleep, but precisely why is not really recognized. There are, naturally, some theories:
- Tinnitus can make you hear ringing, thumping, and humming and that noise can cause you to lose sleep. (Lack of sleep can also make your tinnitus worse, which then can cause stronger insomnia, it’s a vicious cycle).
- As you develop hearing loss, your brain starts straining, it’s searching for stimulus from your ears where none exists. Your whole cycle could be thrown off if your brain is working overtime attempting to hear (it’s that “my brain won’t shut off” problem).
- Loss of hearing is related to depression, and your sleep cycle can be disrupted by chemical imbalances caused by depression. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Can Your Sleep be Improved by Using Hearing Aids?
According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid wearers reported feeling satisfied with their sleep, compared to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t wear hearing aids. So does that imply it’s safe to assume hearing assistance devices are also a kind of sleep aid?
Not really. If your hearing is perfectly healthy, using hearing aids isn’t going to cure your insomnia.
But if you are suffering from loss of hearing, your hearing aids can target several concerns that might be contributing to your insomnia:
- Tinnitus: Depending on the nature and cause of your tinnitus, hearing aids might provide a practical method of managing that ringing and buzzing. This can help stop that vicious cycle and help you get to sleep.
- Strain: The burden on your brain will essentially decreased by using hearing aids. And when your brain isn’t always straining to hear everything around you, it’ll be less likely to continue that practice when you’re attempting to sleep.
- Isolation: Your not so likely to feel isolated and depressed if you can hook up with people in your social group when you’re out and about. Hearing aids make building relationships smoother (this can also decrease “cabin fever”-related sleep cycle problems).
Wearing Hearing Aids to Achieve a Better Night Sleep
When it comes to sleep, the number of hours isn’t the only thing to consider. In order for your sleep to be actually refreshing, you need to reach a targeted depth to your z’s. Hearing loss can prevent that deep sleep, and hearing aids, as a result, can enhance your ability to achieve restful sleep.
it should be pointed out that while they’ll help improve your sleep, the majority of hearing aids are not supposed to be used overnight. They aren’t going to help you hear better when you’re sleeping (you won’t be able to hear your alarm clock better, for instance). And, as time passes, using your hearing aids at night can reduce their efficiency. You get deeper sleep if you wear them during the day.
Go to Bed!
Sleep is valuable. Your immune system, your stress levels, and your ability to think clearly will all be helped by ample sleep. Healthy sleep habits have even been connected to reduced risks for heart disease and diabetes.
When your hearing loss begins to affect your sleep schedule, it’s not just a small irritation, insomnia can often become a real health problem. Luckily, most surveys report that people with hearing aids have better quality of sleep.