What is listening fatigue?
Listening fatigue is a feeling of tiredness or exhaustion associated with the ear or auditory system. It may be caused by a range of factors, including constant or loud noise, long periods of exposure to high-pitched sounds or frequencies, and age.
Symptoms often occur after spending a long time in a noisy environment or listening to music at a high volume through headphones.
What causes listening fatigue?
Possible causes include:
- Constant or loud noise: Long-term exposure to high noise levels may damage the ear and cause listening fatigue. This can include noisy machinery at work, loud music at events or constant traffic in a busy area.
- High-pitched sounds or frequencies: Sounds such as concert loudspeakers or sirens may damage the ear and contribute to listening fatigue.
- Age: Over time, the ear may become less able to filter noise. Listening fatigue may also be more common in older people because of age-related changes in the auditory system.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- A feeling of pressure in the ear
- Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
- Difficulty understanding what other people are saying
- Headache
- Dizziness
These symptoms often occur after spending a long time in a noisy environment or listening to music at a high volume through headphones.
What can help with listening fatigue?
To help manage listening fatigue, avoid high noise levels and use hearing protection when needed.
It can also help to take regular breaks and move farther away from the source of noise when possible. Noise-reducing hearing devices or listening to music at a lower volume may also help.
Other measures that may help include:
- Using earplugs to reduce noise while sleeping
- Installing double-glazed windows or using curtains to reduce traffic or other outside noise
- Using noise-reducing devices at home, such as fans or white-noise machines, to create a quieter environment
What treatments are available?
Treatment may include medicine for pain or inflammation, after consulting your GP, massage therapy, relaxation exercises or sound therapy.
Noise-reduction devices may help block background noise. In some cases, hearing aids or sound-amplification devices may be recommended to improve hearing and relieve listening fatigue.
Listening fatigue may be chronic and require long-term management. Speak to a doctor or hearing specialist to find out which option may be suitable for you.