Not getting enough sleep can have a harmful effect on your health and vitality. There’s an unpleasant feeling to getting up groggy because you got less than seven to eight hours sleep that even several cups of coffee can’t help. So when your loss of hearing began causing insomnia, you were aghast.
And that’s justifiable. Thankfully, there’s a little something that can help: a hearing aid. It’s feasible that these small devices can help you get a sounder night sleep, according to the latest surveys.
How is Sleep Affected by Hearing Loss?
Even though you feel fatigued all day and are completely drained by bedtime, you still toss and turn and have a hard time falling asleep. All of these problems started around the same time you also began to notice that your mobile phone, radio, and television were becoming difficult to hear.
Come to find out, you’re not imagining things. It’s well documented that individuals who have loss of hearing often have a difficult time falling asleep, but exactly why is not well understood. Some theories have been put forward:
- Your brain, when you have hearing loss, strains to get input that isn’t there. Your whole cycle could be thrown off if your brain is working overtime trying to hear (it’s that “my brain won’t shut off” issue).
- You can be kept awake by tinnitus which can cause ringing, thumping, or humming noises in your ears. (Lack of sleep can also cause your tinnitus to get worse, which then can cause stronger insomnia, it’s a vicious cycle).
- Loss of hearing is related to depression, and depression can cause chemical imbalances in the brain that interrupt your sleep cycle. Because of this, falling asleep and staying asleep becomes more difficult.
Can Your Sleep be Improved by Using Hearing Aids?
According to one study, 44% of individuals with loss of hearing who don’t wear hearing aids documented being satisfied with their sleep compared to 59% sleep satisfaction among those who did use a hearing aid. So are hearing aids a sleep aid or what?
well, not quite. If you don’t have loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.
But if you are suffering from hearing loss, your hearing aids can manage numerous problems that might be contributing to your insomnia:
- Strain: Your hearing aids will essentially diminish the burden on your brain. And your brain won’t be as likely to strain while falling asleep if it isn’t struggling all of the rest of the time.
- Tinnitus: Hearing aids may be a practical treatment for that buzzing or ringing, depending on the nature of your tinnitus. This can help stop that vicious cycle and help you get some sleep.
- Isolation: If you’re out and about, hooking up with the people in your social sphere, you’re less likely to feel isolated and depressed. Relationships become easier with hearing aids (this can also reduce “cabin fever”-related sleep cycle issues).
Getting Better Quality Sleep With Hearing Aids
It isn’t just how many hours you sleep that’s significant here. Depth of sleep is as relevant as how many hours you sleep. Hearing aids can increase your ability to achieve a restful nights sleep because loss of hearing without hearing aids can reduce deep sleep.
it should be mentioned 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 aren’t going to help you hear better (for instance, you won’t hear your alarm clock better). And, over time, using your hearing aids at night can lessen their efficiency. It’s using them during the day that helps you achieve better sleep.
Go to Bed!
Getting a good night’s sleep is a precious thing. Your stress level, your immune system, and your ability to think clearly will all be enhanced by sufficient sleep. A reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes have also been linked to balanced sleep habits.
When your loss of hearing begins to affect your sleep schedule, it’s not just a small irritation, insomnia can often result in serious health concerns. Luckily, people report having better quality sleep when they use hearing aids.