It’s not fun when you can’t sleep at night. And when it occurs frequnetly, it’s particularly vexing. You toss and turn and maybe stare at the clock (or your phone) and stress about just how tired you’ll be the next day. When these kinds of sleepless nights routinely happen, medical professionals tend to use the label “insomnia”. Over time, the effects of persistent insomnia will compound, negatively impacting your overall health.
And, maybe not surprisingly, “your general health” includes your hearing health. That’s right, insomnia can have an impact on your ability to hear. Though the relationship between hearing loss and insomnia might not be a cause-and-effect situation, there’s still a link there.
Can lack of sleep impact your hearing?
How could loss of sleep possibly impact your hearing? There’s a significant amount of research that suggests insomnia, over time, can impact your cardiovascular system. Without the nightly recuperative power of sleep, it’s more difficult for your blood to get everywhere it needs to be.
Insomnia also means an increase in stress and anxiety. Being stressed and anxious aren’t only mental states, they’re physiological states, too.
So, how does hearing loss play into that? Your ears work because they’re filled with delicate little hairs known as stereocilia. When sound waves vibrate these little hairs, signals are sent to your brain which translates these signals into sound.
When your circulatory system isn’t working correctly, these hairs have a hard time thriving. These hairs can, in some instances, be permanently damaged. And once that happens, your hearing will be permanently damaged. This can result in permanent hearing loss, especially the longer it persists.
Is the reverse true?
If insomnia can affect your hearing health, can hearing loss stop you from sleeping? Yes, it can! Hearing loss can make the world really quiet, and some individuals like a little bit of sound when they try to sleep. For individuals in this group, that amount of quiet can make it really hard to get a good night’s sleep. Another way that hearing loss may cost you some sleep is if you find yourself stressed about losing your hearing.
So how can you get a good night’s sleep when you have hearing loss? Wearing your hearing aids during the day can help lessen stress on your brain at night (when you’re not wearing them). Adhering to other sleep-health tips can also be helpful.
How to get a quality night’s sleep
- Try not to use your bedroom for other activities besides sleeping: Your bedroom is for sleeping in, so try to keep it that way. Working in your bedroom isn’t a very good plan.
- For at least an hour, abstain from looking at screens: (Really, the longer the better.) Your brain tends to be stimulated by looking at screens.
- Before you go to bed, avoid drinking alcohol: This will simply disrupt your natural sleep cycle.
- For at least 2 hours before you go to bed, try to avoid liquids: Having to get up and go to the bathroom can start the “wake up” process in your brain. So, sleeping through the night is better.
- Exercise regularly: You might go to bed with some excess energy if you don’t get enough exercise. Getting enough exercise every day will really be helpful.
- Stop drinking caffeine after midday: Even decaf coffee has enough caffeine in it to keep you up at night if you drink at night. This includes soda also.
- Find ways to alleviate stress: Get away from work and do something soothing before bed.
Be aware of the health of your hearing
You can still manage your symptoms even if you have hearing loss along with some insomnia.
Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam today!