Constant fatigue can be incredibly frustrating, and it’s easy to assume that stress, lack of sleep or a hectic schedule are to blame. However, hearing loss might be the surprising reason behind your persistent tiredness.
How Can Hearing Loss Cause Tiredness?
Hearing loss leads to a number of communication difficulties, from trouble understanding speech sounds to issues filtering out background noise. When you struggle to hear sound, you require more cognitive resources to process sound than people without hearing loss. Over the course of the day, the extra mental effort you take to communicate with others can leave you feeling exhausted—a condition known as listening fatigue.
What Are Some Other Signs of Hearing Loss?
In addition to listening fatigue, keep an eye out for these signs of hearing loss:
- Difficulty following conversations. If you frequently ask others to repeat themselves or find yourself nodding along and pretending to hear things you don’t understand, it could be a sign that you need a hearing test.
- Avoiding social situations. The strain of communicating when you have hearing loss can lead you to skip social interactions altogether. If you start avoiding social events you used to love, take a minute to think about whether hearing is the culprit.
- Turning up the volume. When you have hearing loss, you may not realize that you’re turning the volume up higher and higher. If others mention that your TV or radio is uncomfortably loud, it may be a sign that you struggle to hear clearly.
What Can I Do?
Excessive listening fatigue can make focusing on work, school and other social activities difficult. A few ways you can help reduce the impact of listening fatigue include:
- Schedule a hearing test. A hearing test will identify the specific volumes and frequencies you struggle to hear. It’s the first step towards treating hearing loss and minimizing listening fatigue.
- Get hearing aids. If your audiologist identifies hearing loss, they may recommend hearing aids. These tiny devices amplify speech sounds to clarify communication and reduce listening fatigue. Some devices even come with noise suppression technology to help you hear in areas with a lot of background chatter.
- Find quiet time. Even with hearing loss treatment, you may want to set some quiet time aside every day. Try visiting Balboa Park after work, reading a book or going for a run to reduce the impact of listening fatigue.
If listening effort is causing you to feel tired all the time, contact San Diego Hearing Center today to schedule a hearing test with one of our specialists.