The concept of listening fatigue has been around for quite some time; but could it be even more prevalent in a world of face masks? The short answer is absolutely – for both those with hearing loss and those without.
Before we dig in though, let me break down what listening fatigue actually is for those who don’t know.
What is listening fatigue?
Put simply, listening fatigue can be referred to as the fatigue or burnout that is usually caused by prolonged periods of listening, or the effort that is put into listening. Many with hearing loss experience this throughout their everyday lives because hearing loss forces them to pay even more attention, and expend more energy into processing and listening; compared to a hearing person.
Believe it or not, simply hearing and listening takes a lot more energy and brainpower than you might expect. For many, it’s just part of everyday life and we may not think twice about it. However, with hearing loss, it’s not always so natural. When someone has hearing loss, it forces the brain to work double to receive, process, and interpret what is being said or heard and as a result, can take an emotional and even sometimes physical toll.
The effects of listening fatigue
As mentioned, listening fatigue can take a significant toll on the mind and body. How it will do so will vary from person to person as everyone is unique. However, here are just some of the signs to look out for:
- Anxiety
- General fatigue/tiredness
- Frustration
- Irritability
- Depression
- Social isolation/withdrawal
- Changes in mental or physical health
- Burnout
Listening fatigue and face masks
You may have noticed the connection between listening fatigue and face masks. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have caused various communication barriers, of which listening fatigue can be a result.
It is known that masks serve as a huge barrier for many; especially for those with hearing loss, and/or those who rely on lip-reading, facial ques, etc. for effective communication. In fact, I recently learned that masks decrease decibels (level/volume of sound) down anywhere from 3-5dB for surgical or cloth masks and 12dB for N-95 masks. This actually opened my eyes as it proves just how much masks limit the quality of sound and speech and it’s no wonder that it would cause listening fatigue.
Tips for Coping with Listening Fatigue
Listening fatigue can be immensely frustrating. While it’s not 100% preventable, there are some things that I’ve found through personal experience that can help.
- Go to a quiet place, especially after long periods of listening to give your ears and mind a break.
- Deep breathing: Whether it’s in the moment or afterward. Taking a minute (or a few) to take a breather can help reset, refocus, and maintain the frustration and anxiety.
- Don’t be afraid to speak up. Whether you have hearing loss or are don’t; if you’re struggling to hear someone or keep up, don’t be afraid to let the other person/people know.
- Opt for written communication if it’s possible. Try communicating with pen and paper, phone (texting/notes), or if the situation/context allows: email/IM/text.
- Use hearing assistive technology if it’s available. It may not work for every situation; especially in many mask situations. However, everyone and every environment is different. Technology such as FM systems, captioning systems, etc. may be able to help. (If you have Bluetooth compatible hearing aids that sync with your phone and masks are a big barrier for you; ask your audiologist about a mask setting; this is a setting that you can switch on before going into an environment with masks that will increase the decibels of your hearing aids that may help increase the volume just a bit. Even if there is an everyday environment such as a place with a lot of background noise etc., your audiologist may be able to help create a setting for your hearing aids, for that specific environment.
Finally, please remember more than anything, to be patient and kind. Whether it’s in a grocery store and you’re trying to get someone’s attention or someone’s not hearing you etc.; they are more likely than not, not being rude but simply cannot hear you.
Click here to access the original article by Hearing Like Me
