Sleep researchers engage with the mysterious bodily function that happens every night. Though we know a lot about the importance of sleep for health and mental wellbeing, it is less clear what is happening while we sleep. Brain imaging gives us a clue into the activity of the sleeping mind, but our awareness remains ready to jump to action despite its apparent obliviousness. Although closing the eyelids blocks visual stimuli from rousing us from a restful sleep, our ears remain receptive to sound throughout the night. Indeed, without the ability to “blink” our ears, our brains engage in a shift of focus, allowing sensory stimuli to fade into the distance until something alarming arouses us.
Since it is helpful for many people to sleep in a quiet environment, it might come as a surprise that hearing loss can lead to sleep disturbances and insomnia. Though different studies have reached different conclusions, a recent meta-analysis has found that hearing impairment is correlated with sleep disturbances and disorders. Let’s explore the variety of these findings, hoping to uncover the deeper relationship between sleep and hearing.
Hearing and Sleep Stages
When we sleep, our ears remain receptive to sounds nearby the body. Quiet sounds allow the mind to stay asleep, and the deepest sleep stages can make some of us early impervious to sound. However, the sound of an alarm clock is enough to wake us up, and for some that alarm doesn’t need to be very loud. What explains this connection between sound and sleep? Even in the deepest sleep stages, the brain continues to receive sonic information and process it at a low level of awareness. That processing deems some sonic information to be harmless, while other information is concerning. Loud noises can rouse us from sleep, just like the sound of the alarm in the morning, and the brain relies on that low level of mental activity to unconsciously filter through potential threats while we sleep.
Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
Perhaps this connection between low-level auditory processing and sleep can help us understand the relationship. Some studies have shown that those with hearing loss, impairment, or deafness tend to experience a sound sleep, and individual reports can concur with this finding. Yet, a recent meta-analysis titled “Evidence for an Association Between Hearing Impairment and Disrupted Sleep: Scoping Review” in the American Journal of Audiology found the contrary. This study witnessed higher levels of insomnia and sleep disorders among those who have a hearing impairment. Experts are investigating the underlying mechanisms that connect hearing and sleep. Some theorize that the lack of auditory information during sleep puts the mind into a higher state of activity. Remaining vigilant for threats at night can make it more difficult for the mind to reach the state of deep sleep that is necessary to remain asleep and to wake up feeling rested. As researchers continue to investigate this relationship, individual reports give evidence that this is sometimes the case.
Treatment for Hearing Loss
Those who have untreated hearing loss are at higher risk for all kinds of disorders in physical, mental, and cognitive health. Many of these relationships are linked through impaired communication ability, and hearing aids can help fill the gap between a speaker and a listener. When the brain doesn’t have enough linguistic stimulation, it can even face a higher risk of dementia, so treatment for hearing loss is not only important for social and emotional wellbeing but also for the steady functioning of cognition.
When it comes to insomnia and sleep disorders, it is important to work in concert with specialists who can tackle hearing loss, as well. In most cases, it is not recommended to wear hearing aids to sleep, but your primary care doctor and sleep and hearing specialists can coordinate treatment plans to find solutions for the multiple problems that arise.
If you have untreated hearing loss, don’t put off making an appointment for a hearing test. We can begin with this diagnostic assessment and then proceed to investigate your treatment options and the other specialists that may be able to help you overcome issues such as insomnia and sleep disturbances.
