Do You Feel Drained from Listening?

Are you feeling worn out by the end of the day? Fatigue caused by hearing loss is very real. 

Facts About Fatigue

The actual definition of fatigue is difficult to fully describe. Generally speaking, everyone knows what it is based on their personal experience with it. The most distinct type of fatigue manifests in a physical form. This can be recognized based on physiological activity and metabolic energy that preserves it. When the energy (glucose) becomes depleted, it reduces a person’s ability to sustain activity. Feelings of fatigue are different for everyone. Some may simply feel exhausted, while others have an almost disabled reaction, such as a full on resistance to continue on with their daily life. 

Everyone has had some form of physical fatigue in the past. Physical exercises are not the only cause of fatigue. A continuous use of mental energy and effort can bring about fatigue. This is known as a cognitive or mental fatigue. Others have identified ‘emotional fatigue’ as a separate type of fatigue, which is induced by stress. Subjectively, all forms of fatigue have been characterized as a condition that drains the energy out of a person.   

Are there any Positive Aspects of Fatigue?

Fatigue can actually protect us. If you do not start to feel tired in the event of experiencing physical fatigue, you may exhaust all of your body’s energy on one single task, and not be able to recover from it without resting. Fatigue halts you in your tracks for a reason. 

Modern Research on Fatigue and Hearing Loss

Time and again research has shown that fatigue is experienced at greater levels among those with hearing loss, than those who do not have hearing loss. In other scenarios, fatigue that is experienced by someone who is undergoing cancer treatments is much more severe than someone who has hearing loss. Not all people are impaired when they experience fatigue. Based on current research, there isn’t a direct link to the severity of hearing loss and fatigue. Recounts of fatigue due to hearing loss included the mental strain of comprehending speech, the effort involved in managing hearing loss (for example, planning where to sit beforehand to ensure that you have the best seat in order to understand what is being said), feelings of emotional stress between yourself and family/friends. 

Transient Fatigue vs. Persistent Fatigue    

Transient fatigue is an average form of fatigue. It just becomes part of your daily routine. Everyone experiences this type of fatigue after engaging in strenuous activities for a long period of time, but it disappears after a while when you take a break and rest. If you do not take a break that lasts long enough, that’s not enough recovery time. As a result, fatigue can build up and eventually become persistent. This causes a dangerous cycle of intensifying fatigue that will not go away. 

Real Life Scenarios on the Effects of Hearing-related Fatigue  

Different groups of people that are studied must have factors such as age, career, and other health conditions taken into consideration. Measuring a person’s general fatigue, are commonly used for cancer patients and people with other severe conditions. When the proper measures are used, it shows that the cause of hearing loss has been based on incidents of fatigue in a person’s daily routines.

The influences differ between each person. Some people might not socialize as often to make sure they have time to regain energy from exhausting experiences. Others may just keep going and be just as engaging and active as everyone who is present, but they won’t enjoy it as much as everyone else. Anyone who has a job probably doesn’t have control over the amount of activity they engage in, and they may wind up feeling fatigue. This could result in feelings of exhaustion outside of work, a loss of earning power or withdrawing early from work.

Can Hearing Aids reduce feelings of Fatigue?

There was a study conducted, which examined fatigue before and after a hearing aid fitting. It concluded that there was an unequivocal decline in fatigue that was linked to hearing. Fatigue was shown to continuously remain lower for 6 months after the hearing aid fitting. Research still needs to be done to learn more. Even though we know that fatigue and activity are closely linked, there isn’t enough information on the effects of how hearing aid fittings affect a person’s levels of activity.

3 Main Points of Listening Fatigue Research 

1. Fatigue may - or may not - be something that a patient is seeking help for.
2. Fatigue in, relationship to hearing, is different for everyone. It’s important that your hearing healthcare provider listens to your individual concerns, and helps you better understand what you are experiencing.
3. A hearing aid fitting can help with a person’s overall health. If you have fatigue because of your hearing loss, you can decide to continue your same lifestyle, with reduced fatigue, or enhance your lifestyle, and recognize that the fatigue won’t disappear. 

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss and fatigue, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands and styles for your individual needs. 

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