Fatigue can have a wide range of causes, ranging from a simple sleepless night to respiratory problems like sleep apnea. But there is something more common that can also be the cause of fatigue and that’s hearing loss.
To some extent, that’s because hearing loss can be a gradually-moving, subtle condition. You might find yourself continuously fatigued for no apparent reason because you failed to detect the symptoms of early hearing loss. This experience can be really frustrating. This exhaustion can frequently turn into irritability which could cause you to socially isolate yourself. Fortunately, your energy levels will normally increase once you get your hearing loss treated.
Hearing loss moves slowly (and your brain compensates)
For the majority of people, hearing loss is a very gradually-progressing condition that gets worse over time. In its early phases, you likely won’t even notice that you’re developing hearing loss. Even common symptoms, like turning up the volume on your TV and smartphone, can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.
One of the more difficult to miss symptoms of hearing loss is often exhaustion. In spite of how much rest you get, you could still feel fatigued. 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 getting as much information, your brain works harder to comprehend it all. This continual extra work is exhausting in the same way that prolonged periods of concentration can take a toll. Left untreated, this fatigue can get worse over time, impacting your quality of life and your ability to execute daily routine tasks.
The role of stigma
So when people start to feel tired, why wouldn’t they just visit a hearing specialist? There are many explanations: frequently people are busy or thinking about other things. But there’s another reason that might ultimately be more damaging: stigma. People frequently feel as if others will think they’re old if they have hearing loss and that admitting it will ruin their lives. All of these things are false, and they prevent many individuals from seeking treatment.
However, this stigma is beginning to fade away as more people become open to their hearing loss. Many people understand that hearing loss is not some type of social failing, and the very small nature of modern hearing aids makes them easy to hide around people who sadly will not get over this stigma.
Regrettably, 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.
Solutions for hearing loss-related fatigue
There are often no obvious symptoms of early stage hearing loss. That makes it difficult to effectively take a reactive strategy, and it’s why many hearing specialists prefer preventative approaches. Hearing specialists advocate for regular screenings in order to establish a baseline of your healthy hearing, that way they will be capable of identifying changes to your hearing in later screenings. 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. Here are several of the most common and simplest steps:
- Make sure you use 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 you won’t be as tired because your brain won’t have to work so hard.
- Take breaks from conversations: In between conversation, take a quiet rest somewhere. This can help your brain recover from all the work it’s doing and make everyday communication a little more sustainable.
- 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 circumstances. It will be easier, and less tiring, to understand conversations if you move them to a quieter location.
- Consult a hearing specialist: Keeping an eye on the condition of your hearing is important. 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 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 fatigue with no obvious 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 untreated.