Have you ever felt exhausted listening to online meetings all day? Or maybe you’ve played online games too long and too loudly that it feels like you no longer have energy for other activities. If you struggle with this symptom, you might be dealing with listener fatigue.
What is listener fatigue?
Listener fatigue, also known as ear fatigue, occurs after prolonged exposure to an auditory stimulus. It is commonly associated with people with hearing loss and refers to the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion felt after overworking the brain while trying to hear. However, it can also occur in individuals with normal hearing as they experience sensory overload.
Apart from fatigue, individuals might also experience sensitivity or loss of sensitivity towards certain sounds. Some might feel discomfort over specific noises, while others might find they can no longer acknowledge certain sounds, even when made repetitively.
How to relieve listener fatigue
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There are simple activities you can try to relieve listener fatigue throughout the day. These can work whether you have normal hearing or hearing loss.
Take a break.
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Consider walking along a quiet street or in a garden or park. If you’re working at home but unable to go outside, find a quiet room or spot where you can close your eyes and relax. Avoid switching on the TV, listening to music, or using appliances that make loud noises.
Take deep breaths.
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Because listening fatigue is connected with mental exhaustion, you might also be feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Deep breathing exercises or guided meditations can help clear your mind and calm you down. (Click here for a list of mindfulness apps!)
Reduce background noise.
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…or remove them completely. Individuals with hearing loss find it difficult to distinguish speech from background noise. Even if you have normal hearing, the less background noise your ears and brains have to process, the better. You’ll have more energy to focus on conversations and won’t feel strained trying to listen to other sounds.
Lie down for a nap.
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From improving your mood, giving you an energy boost, and making you feel more alert, a quick 20- to 30-minute nap can do wonders. Just make sure you’re dozing off in a noise-free room, so you get a restful break and some much-needed quiet time.
Use subtitles.
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If you still want to indulge in your favorite series or movies, you can lower the volume and turn on captioning. If you’re in a teleconference but want to take a break from listening, apps like Zoom offer features like LIve Remote Captioning. Keep in mind that automatically generated captions are not always accurate, but can be especially useful to individuals with listening fatigue.
If you suspect listener fatigue, the best way to cope is to consult an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor. Apps like mWell offer 24/7 online consultations with their network of primary care and specialized doctors. If you’re a PLDT Home subscriber, you can even get access to a free consultation!
Take the time to focus on yourself, and don’t hesitate to pause and step back when you’re feeling overloaded. Following these steps can help reduce listener fatigue and improve your overall well-being!