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 you were aghast when your loss of hearing started making you lose sleep.
Justifiably so. Thankfully, there’s a little something that can be of assistance: a hearing aid. According to recent surveys and research, these tiny devices can probably help you sleep sounder.
How Does Loss of Hearing Impact Sleep?
Even though 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 problems began around the same time you also began to notice that your mobile phone, radio, and television were becoming difficult to hear.
Turns out, you’re not imagining it. There is a well-documented connection between loss of hearing and insomnia, even if the exact sources aren’t completely clear. There are, of course, a couple of theories:
- Your brain, when you have hearing loss, strains to get input that isn’t there. If your brain is in high gear attempting to hear while you’re trying to sleep, your whole cycle could be thrown off (It’s the typical issue of not being able to get the brain to turn off).
- Hearing loss is related to depression, and your sleep cycle can be disrupted by chemical imbalances as a result of depression. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- You can lose sleep because of tinnitus which can cause humming, ringing, or thumping sounds 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).
Can Your Sleep be Helped by Using Hearing Aids?
According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid users described feeling fulfilled with their sleep, compared to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t use hearing aids. So does that imply it’s safe to assume hearing aids are also a kind of sleep aid?
Not exactly. If you don’t have loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.
But if you are suffering from loss of hearing, your hearing aids can manage numerous problems that could be contributing to your insomnia:
- Strain: Your hearing aids will effectively lessen the burden on your brain. And your brain will be less likely to strain while sleeping if it isn’t struggling all of the rest of the time.
- Isolation: If you’re out on the town, interacting with the people in your social group, you’re not so likely to feel depressed and isolated. Hearing aids make retaining relationships smoother (this can also diminish “cabin fever”-associated sleep cycle troubles).
- Tinnitus: Hearing aids could be an effective treatment for that ringing or buzzing, depending on the nature of your tinnitus. This can help stop that vicious cycle and help you get to sleep.
Using Hearing Aids to Get a Better Night Sleep
When it comes to sleep, how many hours isn’t the only consideration. In order for your sleep to be actually refreshing, it’s important that you obtain a targeted degree to your z’s. Loss of hearing can work against that deep sleep, and hearing aids, therefore, can improve your ability to achieve restful sleep.
it should be mentioned that even though they’ll help improve your sleep, the majority of hearing aids are not meant to be worn at night. When you’re sleeping they aren’t going to help you hear better (for example, you won’t hear your alarm clock better). And your hearing aids can definitely wear out faster if you wear them during the night. It’s wearing them during the day that helps you get deeper sleep.
Go to Bed!
Getting a good night’s sleep is a valuable thing. Ample sleep can keep your immune system in fighting shape, lessen stress levels, and help you think more clearly. A decreased risk of diabetes and heart disease have also been connected to healthy sleep habits.
When your loss of hearing begins to affect your sleep schedule, it’s not only a small irritation, insomnia can often become a serious health concern. Luckily, most surveys document that people who use hearing aids have better quality of sleep.