Will Hearing Aids be Beneficial To Your Sleep?

Man with hearing loss sleeping better because he has hearing aids.

Not getting enough sleep can have a damaging effect on your health and vitality. There’s a disagreeable 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.

Understandably so. The good news is, there’s a little something that can help: a hearing aid. It’s possible that these little devices can help you get a sounder night sleep, according to the latest surveys.

How is Sleep Impacted by Hearing Loss?

Despite the fact that 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 issues began about the same time you also began to notice that your mobile phone, radio, and television were becoming difficult to hear.

It’s not your imagination as it turns out. It’s well documented that individuals who have hearing loss frequently have a difficult time falling asleep, but exactly why is not well understood. There are, naturally, a couple of theories:

  • Tinnitus can make you hear ringing, thumping, and humming and that noise can cause you to lose sleep. (It can become a vicious cycle because lack of sleep can make your tinnitus symptoms worse).
  • Hearing loss is related to depression, and depression can cause chemical imbalances in the brain that disturb your sleep cycle. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
  • 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 attempting to hear (It’s the typical issue of not being able to get the brain to turn off).

Can Hearing Aids Improve Your Sleep?

According to one study, 59% of individuals who were hearing aid wearers described feeling fulfilled with their sleep, in comparison to a 44% satisfaction rate in people who don’t use hearing aids. So does that imply it’s safe to presume hearing aids are also a type of sleep aid?

Not exactly. If you don’t have loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.

But if you have hearing loss related insomnia, hearing aids may help in multiple important ways:

  • Tinnitus: Hearing aids may be a practical treatment for that ringing or buzzing, depending on the nature of your tinnitus. This can assist you to get some sleep by stopping that vicious cycle.
  • Strain: The strain on your brain will effectively decreased by using hearing aids. And when your brain isn’t continuously straining to hear everything around you, it won’t be as likely to keep straining while you’re attempting to sleep.
  • Isolation: If you’re out and about, interacting with the people in your social group, you’re less likely to feel depressed and isolated. Hearing aids make building relationships smoother (this can also diminish “cabin fever”-related sleep cycle issues).

Wearing Hearing Aids to Get a Better Quality Sleep

It isn’t just the number of hours that’s significant here. How deep you sleep is as relevant as the number of hours. Hearing aids can increase your ability to attain a restful nights sleep because loss of hearing without hearing aids can reduce deep sleep.

it should be pointed out that while they’ll help improve your sleep, most hearing aids are not meant to be worn at night. When you’re sleeping they won’t help you hear better (for instance, you won’t hear your alarm clock better). And your hearing aids can definitely wear out faster if you use them at night. You get deeper sleep if you wear them during the day.

Go to Bed!

Sleep is valuable. Ample sleep can keep your immune system in fighting shape, reduce stress levels, and help you think more clearly. Balanced sleep habits have even been connected to reduced risks for heart disease and diabetes.

When your sleep schedule is disrupted by your loss of hearing, it’s not only a small irritation, insomnia can frequently cause serious health problems. Thankfully, most surveys report that people who use hearing aids have better quality of sleep.

 

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.