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 change. So when your hearing loss began causing you to have insomnia, you were aghast.
And that’s justifiable. Thankfully, there’s a little something that can be of assistance: a hearing aid. It’s feasible that these small devices can help you get a better night sleep, according to recent surveys.
How is Sleep Impacted by Loss of Hearing?
Even though you feel tired all day and are exhausted by bedtime, you still toss and turn and have a hard time falling asleep. All of these issues began around the same time you also started to notice that your mobile phone, radio, and television were becoming hard to hear.
It’s not your imagination come to find. It’s well documented that people who have loss of hearing often have a difficult time falling asleep, but exactly why is not really understood. There are, of course, a few theories:
- As you develop loss of hearing, your brain starts straining, it’s searching for stimulus from your ears where none exists. If your brain is in overdrive trying to hear while you’re trying to sleep, your entire cycle could be thrown off (it’s that “my brain won’t shut off” issue).
- Tinnitus can cause you to hear ringing, thumping, and humming and that noise can keep you awake at night. (Lack of sleep can also make your tinnitus worse, which can then cause stronger insomnia, it’s a vicious cycle).
- Hearing loss is connected to depression, and your sleep cycle can be disturbed by chemical imbalances as a result of depression. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Can Hearing Aids Improve Your Sleep?
According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid users noted feeling content with their sleep, compared to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t use hearing aids. So are hearing aids a sleep aid or what?
well, not quite. If you don’t suffer from loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.
But if you are suffering from hearing loss, your hearing aids can target numerous issues that may be worsening your insomnia:
- Strain: The strain on your brain will essentially diminished by wearing hearing aids. And your brain won’t be as likely to strain while sleeping if it isn’t struggling all of the rest of the time.
- Isolation: Your not so likely to feel depressed and isolated if you can hook up with people in your social group when you’re out on the town. Relationships become easier with hearing aids (sleep cycle problems that result in “cabin fever” can also be reduced).
- Tinnitus: Depending on the nature and cause of your tinnitus, hearing aids might provide an effective method of managing that buzzing and ringing. This can help short circuit that vicious cycle and help you get to sleep.
Achieving a Better Night Sleep With Hearing Aids
It isn’t just how many hours you sleep that’s significant here. How deep you sleep is as important as how many hours you sleep. Loss of hearing can work against that deep sleep, and hearing aids, therefore, can increase your ability to enjoy restful sleep.
Using your hearing aids on the recommended daytime schedule will enhance your sleep but it’s worthwhile to note that hearing aids are not ordinarily designed to be used at night. When you’re sleeping they aren’t going to help your hearing (for example, you won’t hear your alarm clock more clearly). 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 enhanced by sufficient sleep. A reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes have also been connected to balanced sleep habits.
When your sleep schedule is disrupted by your hearing loss, the issue becomes more than annoying, insomnia can frequently become a real health issue. Fortunately, people report having better quality sleep when they use hearing aids.