Feeling tired? Your body may be trying to whisper a warning.
Americans are notoriously bad sleepers, with 1 in 3 US adults failing to consistently get the recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye at night.
But if you’re still dragging even after logging enough Zzzs, doctors say the problem might not be your sleep — it could be your ears.
That’s because research shows people with hearing loss are far more likely to feel fatigued than those without.
In one study, scientists tracked more than 3,000 middle-aged people for three years and found those with hearing loss were nearly twice as likely to feel tired every day compared with people who could hear normally.
Experts say the reason is simple: active listening takes serious mental effort. Straining to follow meetings, conversations or even cut through background noise can quickly leave you feeling drained — a problem that gets worse if you aren’t getting enough rest.
“It takes a lot of cognitive resources to process sound, and a lack of energy and focus can make this feel even more difficult,” said Dr. Jenn Schumacher, an audiologist at ReSound, which makes prescription hearing aids.
“It’s especially challenging for people with hearing loss, who rely heavily on visual cues like facial expressions, lip movements, and gestures to fill in what their ears might miss,” she explained.
Across the country, more than 1 in 10 people have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
It can affect people at any stage of life, but age is a major risk factor. About one in three adults over 65 and nearly half of adults 75 and older experience age-related hearing loss.
For many, hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear’s hair cells, which send sound signals to the brain. This can come from wear and tear due to getting older, exposure to loud noises or medical conditions like chronic ear infections.
Hearing loss can also be caused by certain medications, genetic factors, head injuries and obstructions such as excessive earwax, fluid buildup or a ruptured eardrum, which can block sound from reaching the inner ear.
Getting your hearing checked can help doctors pinpoint the cause and determine whether the loss can be treated. If not, they can help you find the right amplification technology, like hearing aids.
In the meantime, Schumacher said there are simple steps you can take to reduce listening fatigue — and some are as easy as flipping a switch.
“For people with hearing loss, clear visibility isn’t just helpful, it’s necessary,” she said. “So much of general communication comes from subtle visual cues, the shape of the mouth, facial expressions, or even small movements that hint at tone or emphasis.”
When lighting is poor, those cues get harder to see, and the brain has to work extra hard to fill in the gaps.
“Over time, this can lead to fatigue, frustration and a feeling of disconnect from the conversation, especially in group settings where it’s already hard to keep up,” Schumacher explained.
So if you’re talking with someone, make sure your space is well lit and position yourself so the light hits the speaker’s face. That can also take a major load off your brain.
“Good lighting makes facial cues and lip-reading much easier, especially in winter when natural light is limited,” Schumacher said. “Facing said person allows you to capture their entire face and body language, maximizing the visual input your brain uses.”
When adjusting the lighting isn’t an option, you can still use visual signals to reduce strain.
“For example, if a phone calls or doorbell rings, use devices that incorporate visual alerts, like flashing lights, alongside sound,” Schumacher suggested. “Relying less on pure auditory input for warnings and signals can help conserve mental energy.”
Reducing other sources of listening strain also helps, because when you’re tired, your brain struggles more to filter out competing noise.
“Choose quiet spaces for important conversations, or ask if you can turn down the TV or music in the room,” Schumacher advised. “This helps conserve the mental energy needed for speech processing.”
And sometimes, the simplest fix is just taking a short break.
“Listening, especially in noise, is demanding mental work, so if you notice your focus dropping regularly, step away for a minute or two to reset,” Schumacher recommended. “Even a brief break can restore your alertness and help prevent burnout.”
If you do end up needing hearing aids, don’t shy away from them.
Experts estimate about 28.8 million US adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet most never use them. Among adults 70 and older who could benefit, fewer than 30% have ever tried them. That number drops to just 16% for ages 20 to 69.
“Modern hearing aids are designed to support clearer communication in challenging environments, helping users better follow conversations and engage more comfortably,” Schumacher said.
And fatigue isn’t the only reason to address hearing loss.
For starters, it’s considered a major modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. Studies show even mild, untreated hearing loss can double the risk of developing dementia.
It also takes a heavy toll on social well-being, increasing the risk of isolation, depression and reduced independence. Physical health can take a hit too, since chronic stress from struggling to hear can raise blood pressure and has been linked to heart disease and, in some cases, diabetes.
