Ever since my grandma, who I share my room with, got an iPad, I saw my sleep quality declining. This is because we used to have no problem with sleeping when she had a galaxy tablet, I could go to sleep even if she did not use her earpiece. But this was not the case with an iPad. Since she had mild hearing loss, she had to listen to her tab at maximum volume. Not offending tablet users, but that didn’t affect me, cos by , I could still sleep and wake up in the morning feeling fresh. But she continued this even when she changed to an iPad which has better sound quality than a galaxy tab. The best part was that she continued her old behaviour of not using her earpiece. This really affected my sleep and mental health. The best part is that I had to persuade her to do so very persistently. Now , after continuing this behaviour for 4 years, her hearing has declined quite severely and now she cannot use her devices with her earpiece.
So, to protect my sleep I tried, different methods, sleeping in my parents room, using ear plugs and eye shades, but nothing seemed to be a long term solution. So, I have to live with this sleep problem. The best part is my family makes me feel as though I am being the “ too sensitive one". Deep inside I feel very demoralised. Am I the problem? I am open to change if the fault is on me, but I feel as if my “basic right” seems to be stripped off me. The same goes for my studies, but sleep is much more crucial.
It must be noted, that there was a period of time when I slept better, when my gran was overseas, as I had better quality sleep and woke up feeling fresher.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. What you’ve described sounds genuinely exhausting, and it makes complete sense that it’s taken a toll on you. Sleep is a basic need, so wanting to protect it doesn’t make you “too sensitive” or difficult. It makes you human.
It also sounds like you’ve tried really hard to adapt before raising this with your family: earplugs, eye shades, changing rooms, compromising for years. That tells me you’re not being unreasonable or unwilling to change, instead you’ve already been changing a lot. Being told you’re the problem after making so many efforts can feel incredibly demoralising, so I can understand why this has hurt so deeply.
Long-term sleep disruption can heighten emotional responses, affect concentration, and make everything feel heavier, so if you’re feeling more sensitive lately, that may be a result of the situation, not a flaw in you. You’re not imagining the impact this is having.
If you’re open to exploring solutions (not because you’re at fault, because you deserve rest), it might help to think together. For example: does the sound mainly make it hard to fall asleep, or does it wake you during the night? If your grandma uses or could use a hearing aid, some newer ones can connect via Bluetooth, which might reduce the need for external sound. Even small boundaries, like agreeing on quiet hours or a routine around bedtime, could make a difference if the family is willing to support you.
Most importantly, you are not wrong for wanting uninterrupted sleep. Your needs matter just as much as anyone else’s. I really hope you’re able to get some understanding and support around this.
Thank you for reaching out. What you described, about how your sleep is affected because of the sound generated by your grandmother using her iPad is indeed a challenging situation to be in. Understandably, the matter is complex as you are considerate and care about your grandmother’s needs but also want to balance your own needs.
Please know that you are not being insensitive in expressing your need for good quality sleep to function optimally. From your sharing, I see that you have consistently displayed flexibility and adaptability all these years and even adjusted study arrangements to accommodate your grandmother’s needs.
From what you have shared, the strain of low quality sleep over an extended period is now taking a toll on your health, which is a cause for concern.
If possible, speak to your parents on your struggles and explain your situation. Surface to them that your health is affected by the sleep disruption, so you have to bring it up.
Highlight about your grandmother’s hearing issues too that have resulted from how she had been using her devices. There is a potential danger of greater hearing loss if she continues her current habits of blasting her devices.
Do remember that none of what is happening is your fault. You fully deserve the right environment to study and to sleep.
Although I foresee it will be challenging, I recommend discussing the issue openly with your parents and brainstorming possible options and compromises together. Keep reaching out whenever needed, too.
