Listening fatigue is a common and often overlooked consequence of hearing loss. It happens when the brain works overtime to make sense of sounds that are difficult to hear or understand. While we tend to think of hearing as something that happens with our ears, the real work happens in the brain.
The outer ear collects sound and channels it to the inner ear, where tiny hair cells in the cochlea transform those sounds into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted along the auditory nerve to the brain, which interprets them as recognizable sounds. When the hair cells in the cochlea become damaged and are unable to process specific frequencies, the brain must work harder to compensate for the loss of sound information. This extra effort leads to fatigue and can result in feelings of exhaustion, stress, and frustration.
How to Reduce Hearing Fatigue
Reducing hearing fatigue is essential for both mental and physical well-being. Here are a few tips to help combat the strain:
- Take a Nap: A short 15-20 minute nap can help refresh your mind and body, improving alertness and reducing tiredness. However, avoid resting for longer than 30 minutes, as it could interfere with your ability to sleep at night.
- Take a Walk: A 10-15 minute walk outside provides fresh air and boosts both mental and physical health. It’s a great way to recharge and release built-up tension.
- Have Quiet Time: Taking breaks throughout the day can provide much-needed rest for your ears. Instead of watching TV, try reading a book or simply sitting quietly to give your brain a mental break.
- Relaxation Exercises: Meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness techniques can help you focus, relax, and reduce mental strain, allowing your body and mind to recuperate.
- Take Your Hearing Aids Out: While hearing aids are crucial for managing hearing loss, removing them for short periods can offer peace and quiet, giving you a mental break to reduce fatigue.
Can Hearing Aids Help?
Wearing hearing aids consistently is one of the best ways to combat listening fatigue. Research supports the benefits of hearing aids in reducing the mental effort required for listening. A 2011 study conducted by Vanderbilt University followed adults aged 47-69 diagnosed with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss to examine the impact of hearing aids on listening effort and mental fatigue. Participants underwent word recognition, word recall, and visual reaction tests both with and without hearing aids. Unsurprisingly, hearing aids significantly improved test scores across all measures, demonstrating that they can reduce the effort needed for listening, thus minimizing mental fatigue.
For more information on hearing loss and strategies to overcome listening fatigue, contact us at Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic. We have audiologists available in Kirkland, Bellevue, and Redmond, WA, ready to help you find relief.