Tips to Manage Listening Fatigue with Hearing Devices & Without

What is Listening Fatigue

Fatigue is subjective and can be presented in different ways. It is something we all experience. Emotionally, physically and mentally. With more fatigue, one can become less productive, less communicative and more prone to accidents.  Where one is less active physically and socially, one is likely to become depressed. (Eddy & Cruz, 2007)

Fatigue is commonly experienced quickly (after an intense gym session, gardening, or project work), and we can alleviate it by taking a break or doing something else. Fatigue can also be chronic. This is where it becomes an issue because it is not quickly resolved and keeps recurring. It can start to affect one's quality of life. Fatigue of this magnitude is experienced in those with hearing loss, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. 

Listening fatigue is when one becomes tired from just trying to listen and understand a conversation, typically with more than one person and/or in the midst of background noise. Listening fatigue is experienced by the hearing impaired often in situations where normal-hearing persons may not have problems in.  

Hearing loss can cause people to struggle to hear and understand family and friends. High levels of mental effort will need to be spent on listening/communication tasks.According to Hockey's model of fatigue, if we are putting in a lot of effort into something and we don't get a result. Then fatigue can set in. If a hearing loss has not been managed and one continues to strain to hear, listening fatigue will be a frequent occurrence. (Hornsby, 2016)

6 Ways to Manage Listening Fatigue

 1.Reserve listening-heavy tasks for earlier on in the day or periods when you feel your sharpest.

2. Insert or take breaks where possible for about 10-20 minutes, hydrate, step outside briefly if indoors.

3. Have a partner where possible to help cover areas you miss

4. Take notes, illustrate the points, take pictures, use transcription aids or recording aids where possible.

5. Assess your hearing, including your hearing in noise

6. If you use a hearing aid or devices, review the settings to ensure that they have been programmed optimally to meet their exact prescription levels. We can help with adjusting your aids optimally at Sonant Hearing.

If you would like to assess your listening, hearing or review how well you can hear speech in noise. To see a private audiologist, one who can help with these various concerns. Call us on 01634 479550 at Sonant Hearing Clinic.

References

Eddy, L., & Cruz, M. (2007). The relationship between fatigue and quality of life in children with chronic health problems: A systematic review. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 12(2), 105–114. 

Hornsby, B. W., & Kipp, A. M. (2016). Subjective ratings of fatigue and vigor in adults with hearing loss are driven by perceived hearing difficulties not degree of hearing loss. Ear and Hearing, 37(1), e1–e10.

https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/20q-hearing-loss-and-listening-29547 (Accessed 17/04/2026)