Fatigue can have a wide range of causes, ranging from a simple sleepless night to respiratory conditions like sleep apnea. But there is something more common that can also be the cause of tiredness and that’s hearing loss.
To some extent, that’s because hearing loss can be a gradually-moving, subtle condition. You might find yourself constantly exhausted for no apparent reason because you failed to detect the symptoms of early hearing loss. This experience can be really frustrating. Additionally, this exhaustion can frequently result in irritability and, ultimately, social isolation. Luckily, your energy levels will normally improve once you get your hearing loss treated.
Hearing loss moves slowly (and your brain compensates)
Hearing loss is usually a slowly progressing condition that gets worse over time. In its early stages, you likely won’t even detect that you’re developing hearing loss. Even common symptoms, like turning the volume up on your TV and smartphone, can be easy to miss if you’re not watching for them.
One of the harder to miss symptoms of hearing loss is often exhaustion. You might feel depleted no matter how much rest you got the night before. This symptom, regrettably, isn’t usually associated with hearing loss.
Because the cause happens in your brain, the symptoms aren’t usually considered an ear problem. When your ears aren’t receiving as much information, your brain works harder to comprehend it all. 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. Your ability to perform daily tasks and your total quality of life can be considerably affected over time as your untreated hearing loss grows worse.
Stigma plays a role
So when people begin to feel tired, why wouldn’t they just go see a hearing specialist? There are many explanations: often people are busy or thinking about other things. But there’s another reason that might ultimately be more damaging: stigma. There’s an impression that hearing loss is terrible or ruins your life or that there’s nothing that can be done about it. Individuals will often avoid seeking treatment because of these false notions.
However, as more people are open about their hearing loss experience, the stigma has begun to fade. Many people understand that hearing loss isn’t some type of social failing, and the very small construction 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 more difficult for individuals to find the care they need because this often results in hearing loss that gets worse over time when it may not have to.
How to manage hearing loss-associated fatigue
There are frequently no obvious symptoms of early phase hearing loss. That makes it challenging to effectively take a reactive strategy, and it’s why many hearing specialists favor preventative approaches. For instance, scheduling routine 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 often a lot more effective.
You can minimize hearing loss associated exhaustion by taking a few proactive measures. Here are several of the most common and easiest steps:
- Try to have conversations in quieter places: When there is a lot of background noise, it can be challenging to sort out voices, even with hearing aids in some instances. It will be easier, and less tiring, to understand conversations if you move them to a quieter spot.
- If you have hearing aids, wear them as frequently as possible: One of the chief 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 won’t experience the same amount of fatigue.
- 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.
- Schedule an assessment with a hearing specialist: It’s important to monitor your hearing health. When hearing loss is in its early stages, your brain doesn’t have to work as hard as it does when the condition gets worse, and a hearing specialist can identify hearing loss when it first begins to develop.
It’s most likely time to make an appointment with a hearing specialist if you’re experiencing exhaustion with no apparent cause. Treating hearing loss can help you reduce your exhaustion and boost your energy. Don’t let stigma cause your hearing loss to continue to be neglected.