Sleep is critical. There’s an unpleasant feeling to getting up groggy because you slept less than seven to eight hours that even several cups of coffee can’t help. So when your loss of hearing began causing insomnia, you were aghast.
Understandably so. But there’s something that can be of assistance, luckily: a hearing aid. It’s possible that these small devices can help you get a sounder night sleep, according to the latest surveys.
How Does Loss of Hearing Affect Sleep?
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 problems started about 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 as it turns out. There is a well-documented link between hearing loss and insomnia, even if the precise sources aren’t completely clear. There are, naturally, a few theories:
- You can lose sleep because of tinnitus which can cause ringing, thumping, or humming noises in your ears. (Lack of sleep can also make your tinnitus worse, which then can cause stronger insomnia, it’s a vicious cycle).
- Hearing loss is connected to depression, and your sleep cycle can be interrupted by chemical imbalances as a result of depression. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- As you develop hearing loss, your brain starts straining, it’s looking for inputs from your ears where none exists. Your whole cycle could be disrupted if your brain is working overtime trying to hear (it’s that “my brain won’t shut off” issue).
Can Your Sleep be Improved by Wearing Hearing Aids?
According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid wearers reported feeling fulfilled with their sleep, in comparison to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t wear hearing aids. So does that guarantee it’s safe to presume hearing assistance devices are also a type of sleep aid?
Not exactly. If your hearing is perfectly healthy, using hearing aids won’t cure your insomnia.
But if you are suffering from loss of hearing, your hearing aids can target several problems that could be worsening your insomnia:
- Tinnitus: Dependent on the nature and cause of your tinnitus, hearing aids might provide a practical means of treating that buzzing and ringing. This can help short circuit that vicious cycle and help you get to sleep.
- Strain: The burden on your brain will essentially diminished by wearing hearing aids. And your brain will be less likely to strain while falling asleep if it isn’t struggling all of the rest of the time.
- Isolation: Your less likely to feel depressed and isolated if you can hook up with people in your social circle when you’re out on the town. Relationships become easier when you use hearing aids (this can also reduce “cabin fever”-related sleep cycle troubles).
Getting Better Night Sleep Using Hearing Aids
When it comes to sleep, the amount of hours is not the only factor to consider. Depth of sleep is as essential as the number of hours. Hearing aids can enhance your ability to get a restful nights sleep because hearing loss without hearing aids can prevent deep sleep.
Wearing your hearing aids on the recommended daytime schedule will improve your sleep but it’s worthwhile to mention that hearing aids aren’t normally meant to be worn while you sleep. They aren’t going to help you hear better when you’re in bed (for example, you won’t hear your alarm clock more clearly). And, as time passes, wearing your hearing aids at night can lessen their efficiency. You get better sleep if you wear them during the day.
Go to Bed!
Sleep is precious. Your stress level, your immune system, and your ability to think clearly will all be benefited by ample sleep. A reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes have also been linked to balanced sleep habits.
When your loss of hearing begins to interrupt your sleep schedule, it’s not just a small irritation, insomnia can often lead to serious health concerns. Thankfully, most surveys report that people who use hearing aids have better quality of sleep.
