Fatigue can have a wide range of causes, ranging from a simple sleepless night to respiratory problems such as sleep apnea. But many individuals are surprised to find out that chronic fatigue and exhaustion can also be due to something relatively common: hearing loss.
To some extent, that’s because hearing loss can be a slow-moving, subtle condition. You may not immediately recognize the symptoms and, as a result, you might feel as if you’re constantly tired for no reason. This can be a frustrating experience. This exhaustion can often turn into irritability which could cause you to socially isolate yourself. Fortunately, your energy levels will usually improve once you get your hearing loss treated.
Hearing loss moves slowly (and your brain compensates)
Hearing loss is typically a slowly progressing condition that gets worse over time. You may not even realize that you have a hearing loss at first. Even common symptoms, like cranking the volume up on your TV and smartphone, can be easy to miss if you aren’t watching for them.
Fatigue is one of the most obvious symptoms of hearing loss. Regardless of how much rest you get, you could still feel exhausted. Regrettably, many individuals don’t instinctively connect this symptom with hearing loss.
Because the cause occurs in your brain, the symptoms aren’t usually considered an ear problem. Your brain has to work overtime to process sound due to the loss of your ability to hear, which can leave you exhausted. In the same way as extended periods of intense concentration can leave you worn out, the extra brain power needed to hear what individuals are saying can be exhausting. Left neglected, this fatigue can get worse over time, impacting your quality of life and your ability to execute daily routine tasks.
Stigma plays a role
So when individuals begin to feel fatigue, why wouldn’t they just visit a hearing specialist? There are many explanations: often people are busy or thinking about other things. But the perception of stigma is another reason which can be even more detrimental. There’s an impression that hearing loss is terrible or ruins your life or that there’s nothing that can be done about it. People will often avoid seeking treatment because of these mistaken notions.
However, this stigma is beginning to fade away as more individuals become open to their hearing loss. Many people understand that hearing loss isn’t some kind of social failing, and the very small nature of modern hearing aids makes them easy to hide around folks who sadly will not let go of this stigma.
It’s unfortunate that this social stigma can make it harder for individuals to find the care they need because this frequently results in hearing loss that gets worse over time when it may not have to.
How to deal with hearing loss-associated fatigue
The earliest phases of hearing loss may not have any noticeable symptoms. That makes it challenging to effectively take a reactive approach, and it’s why many hearing specialists favor preventative techniques. For example, scheduling regular screenings with a hearing specialist before you notice symptoms can help create a baseline of what your healthy hearing looks like. Once this baseline is established, early intervention is often much more effective.
If your hearing loss is causing fatigue, there are a few steps you can take to minimize that exhaustion as much as possible. Some of the simplest and most common steps include the following:
- Schedule an assessment with a hearing specialist: Keeping an eye on the condition of your hearing is essential. When hearing loss is in its early stages, your brain doesn’t need 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.
- Take breaks from conversations: Give yourself some quiet time to rest and refresh in between conversations. Your brain is working extra hard to participate in conversation and brief breaks will make that more sustainable.
- Make sure you wear your hearing aids as frequently as you can: One of the main functions of hearing aids is to clarify human speech, making understanding conversations much easier. This means you won’t be as tired because your brain won’t need to work so hard.
- Try to find more quiet, secluded areas for conversations: Distinguishing voices from background noise can be challenging when you have hearing loss (often whether you’re wearing hearing aids or not). Moving conversations to a location with less background noise can make it easier for your brain to focus on the voice you’re attempting to hear, minimizing fatigue in the process.
It’s most likely time to make an appointment with a hearing specialist if you’re experiencing exhaustion with no apparent cause. You can minimize your fatigue and boost your energy by treating your hearing loss. Don’t let stigma cause your hearing loss to continue to be neglected.