Fatigue and Hearing Loss: Investigating the Connection

It’s not uncommon for anybody to experience some level of fatigue after exertion, but this can be more commonly felt by people with some degree of hearing loss. Sometimes referred to as listening fatigue, this is when somebody is experiencing extra challenges focusing on hearing. Anyone who has to concentrate for a long time needs to have a break, and the same thing occurs with people in any setting experiencing hearing loss. In fact, experiencing listening fatigue frequently or increasingly can be a sign of early hearing loss.

Why Does Hearing Loss Make You Tired?

If someone is experiencing some form of hearing loss, the brain has to work hard to compensate for this limited sense. The brain needs to make sense of the information it receives from the inner ear, and when we experience hearing loss, the auditory system cannot effectively translate that frequency. This results in the brain having to put itself into overdrive to process any form of incoming information. When we experience hearing loss or a decrease in our ability to hear, it results in a sense of fatigue, which is all too common among people experiencing some form of hearing loss.

What is the Solution to Fatigue and Hearing Loss?

Depending on the severity of the hearing loss, hearing aids can improve speech comprehension and listening ability. Because the hearing aid increases the volume of the sounds the individual is processing, the brain doesn’t need to work as hard, which greatly reduces or eliminates fatigue.

We can all tire out when we are listening to difficult conversations, even those who experience the so-called cocktail party syndrome, where there are a number of distractions around the conversation that increase the difficulty level. While this can be found in people who have attentional issues, hearing loss forces someone to concentrate harder. We’ve all experienced how difficult it can be to force ourselves to focus, when our brain wants to do anything other than focus. This is where hearing aids do so much to improve that sense of balance.

Is a Hearing Aid Right for Me?

If you are experiencing some form of hearing loss, a hearing aid may be the ideal solution, especially when experiencing fatigue related to hearing loss. There are a number of impacts related to hearing loss, not just fatigue but also the isolation associated with it. Individuals in the early stages of hearing loss may find it challenging to come to terms with it for various reasons.

The issue arises when this happens frequently, and an individual finds it far easier to withdraw from life. This is why hearing aids can be the perfect fit. After a hearing test, a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) will be able to provide professional and personal support to help someone with hearing loss and the associated fatigue live a better life. They will be able to talk to you about the different styles and why one might be a better choice for you.

How Can People Cope with Listening Fatigue?

Even for people with so-called normal hearing ability, listening intensively can be very exhausting. Anybody can fight fatigue by improving their hearing but can also benefit from the following:

• Taking a break: It’s easy to become fatigued through having to concentrate so intensively, and building regular breaks into life can improve well-being. People wearing hearing aids can also benefit from removing them for a few minutes every day.
• Taking a nap or relaxing: A regular 20 to 30-minute nap can increase performance and well-being or practicing relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or mindfulness, can help clear individuals’ minds and reduce the stress associated with fatigue from excessive concentration.
• Eliminating background noise: If you are experiencing hearing loss, you may have difficulties distinguishing speech from typical background noise. Stepping away from background noise means the brain will have to process less, making it easier to tune into a conversation with more energy and focus.

Improve Your Hearing and Reduce Fatigue in the Right Ways

Fatigue and hearing loss are related, and if you are experiencing some form of hearing loss, it is important to approach a hearing instrument specialist to officially diagnose this so you can have an understanding of the best possible solutions and minimize fatigue while also improving your quality of life. If you want to find out how we can help, you can learn more about Better Hearing of Madison County at (315) 693-3637 and we will be more than happy to provide you with the necessary support.