There are numerous potential causes of fatigue, everything from not being able to sleep at night to respiratory problems like sleep apnea. But there is something more common that can also cause fatigue and that’s hearing loss.
That’s at least partially due to the fact that hearing loss usually progresses gradually over time. You may not immediately distinguish the symptoms and, as a result, you may feel as if you are constantly tired for no reason. This experience can be very frustrating. This exhaustion can frequently turn into irritability which could cause you to socially seclude yourself. The good news is that treating your hearing loss will often boost your energy levels, reducing tiredness and exhaustion.
Hearing loss moves gradually (and your brain compensates)
Hearing loss is typically a slowly advancing condition that grows worse over time. You might not even recognize that you have a hearing impairment at first. Even prevalent symptoms, like cranking up the volume on your TV and smartphone, can be easy to miss if you’re not watching for them.
Exhaustion is one of the most noticeable symptoms of hearing loss. No matter how much sleep you get, you could still feel exhausted. Regrettably, many individuals don’t intuitively associate this symptom with hearing loss.
Because the cause occurs in your brain, the symptoms aren’t generally considered an ear issue. Your brain needs to work extra hard to process sound because of the loss of your ability to hear, which can leave you exhausted. This constant extra work is exhausting in the same way that extended periods of concentration can take a toll. Your ability to complete daily tasks and your total quality of life can be considerably affected over time as your neglected hearing loss gets worse.
The role of stigma
So when people begin to feel fatigue, why wouldn’t they just consult a hearing specialist? There are many explanations: often people are busy or thinking about other things. But there’s another reason that might inevitably be more damaging: stigma. There’s a feeling that hearing loss is bad or ruins your life or that there’s nothing that can be done about it. All of these things are false, and they prevent many people from seeking treatment.
However, as more people are open about their hearing loss experience, the stigma has begun to disappear. It’s becoming a more common understanding that hearing loss can happen to individuals of all ages and today’s hearing aids are small enough that the few people who can’t get over this stigma won’t even see them.
Unfortunately, this perception of social stigma can cause individuals in the early stages of hearing loss to avoid getting the treatment they need leading to more severe permanent hearing loss.
How to deal with hearing loss-associated fatigue
The earliest phases of hearing loss might not have any noticeable symptoms. That’s why hearing specialists favor taking a preventative approach rather than the far more difficult and less effective reactive approach. For instance, scheduling regular screenings with a hearing specialist before you detect symptoms can help establish a baseline of what your healthy hearing looks like. Once this baseline is established, early intervention is frequently a lot more effective.
If your hearing loss is causing fatigue, there are a few steps you can take to lessen that exhaustion as much as possible. Here are several of the most prevalent and simplest steps:
- Be sure you wear your hearing aids as frequently as you can: One of the primary functions of hearing aids is to clarify human speech, making understanding conversations much easier. This means your brain won’t have to work as hard and you will not experience the same degree of fatigue.
- Schedule a consultation with a hearing specialist: It’s important to keep tabs on your hearing health. When hearing loss is in its early phases, your brain doesn’t have to work as hard as it does when the condition worsens, and a hearing specialist can diagnose hearing loss when it first begins to develop.
- Try to locate more quiet, isolated spots for conversations: When there is a lot of background noise, it can be challenging to sort out voices, even with hearing aids in some circumstances. It will be easier, and less exhausting, to understand conversations if you move them to a quieter place.
- Take breaks from conversations: In between conversation, take a quiet break somewhere. Your brain is working overtime to participate in conversation and brief rests will make that more sustainable.
It’s most likely time to make an appointment with a hearing specialist if you’re experiencing fatigue with no obvious cause. You can lessen your fatigue and boost your energy by treating your hearing loss. Don’t let stigma cause your hearing loss to continue to be neglected.
