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

Not having enough sleep can have a negative impact on your health and vitality. If you don’t get a full, restful seven to eight hours of sleep, you get up groggy and cranky, an unpleasant feeling that only three cups of coffee can keep at bay. So when your loss of hearing began causing insomnia, you were aghast.

Understandably so. But there’s a little something that can help, fortunately: a hearing aid. It’s feasible that these small devices can help you get a sounder night sleep, according to the latest surveys.

How is Sleep Affected by Loss of Hearing?

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 issues 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 come to find. There is a well-documented connection between hearing loss and insomnia, even if the exact sources aren’t exactly clear. There are, of course, a few theories:

  • Loss of hearing 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.
  • You can lose sleep because of tinnitus which can cause humming, ringing, or thumping noises 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).
  • As you develop loss of hearing, your brain begins straining, it’s looking for stimulus from your ears where there isn’t. If your brain is in high gear attempting to hear while you’re drifting off to sleep, your whole cycle could be thrown off (it’s that “my brain won’t shut off” problem).

Can Your Sleep be Helped by Wearing Hearing Aids?

According to one study, 44% of people with loss of hearing who don’t use hearing aids documented being satisfied with their sleep in comparison to 59% sleep satisfaction from those who did use a hearing aid. So does that imply it’s safe to assume hearing assistance devices are also a kind of sleep aid?

well, not quite. If you don’t suffer from loss of hearing, a hearing aid can’t cure insomnia.

But if you have hearing loss related insomnia, hearing aids could help in numerous critical ways:

  • Strain: The burden on your brain will essentially decreased by using hearing aids. And your brain won’t be as likely to strain while falling asleep if it isn’t straining 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 circle when you’re out and about. Hearing aids make building relationships smoother (sleep cycle issues that cause “cabin fever” can also be reduced).
  • Tinnitus: Dependent on the cause and nature of your tinnitus, hearing aids could provide a reliable means of managing that buzzing and ringing. This can help stop that vicious cycle and help you get some sleep.

Wearing Hearing Aids to Achieve a Better Night Sleep

With regards to sleep, the amount of hours isn’t the only thing to consider. How deep you sleep is as essential as how many hours you sleep. Hearing loss can reduce that deep sleep, and hearing aids, as a result, can increase your ability to enjoy restful sleep.

Wearing your hearing aids on the suggested daytime schedule will enhance your sleep but it’s significant to note that hearing aids aren’t ordinarily designed to be used while you sleep. They don’t help you hear better when you’re sleeping (for example, you won’t hear your alarm clock more clearly). And your hearing aids can definitely wear out faster if you use them at night. You get better sleep if you wear them during the day.

Go to Bed!

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

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

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.