Since deaf people can't hear, is relaxing and falling asleep easier for them? In general, do they sleep better than hearing people?
Of course some hearing people have no trouble getting to sleep, but others awaken whenever they hear a sound.
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$\begingroup$ I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's not biology $\endgroup$– rg255Jul 11, 2015 at 22:23
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1$\begingroup$ @rg255 - since when are sleep and sensation not Biology? $\endgroup$– AliceD ♦Jul 12, 2015 at 1:27
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$\begingroup$ ok perhaps better to say I think it is trivial, does not deal with any kind of biological question or problem, and is unlikely to be of interest to the target audience (students, academics and active researchers) $\endgroup$– rg255Jul 12, 2015 at 7:11
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$\begingroup$ You must also consider the reason for the condition. Are they deaf because of something mechanical in the ear? Something neurological? Maybe even psychosomatic? I would postulate that the total lack of one sense from birth would have no discernable effect on sleep patterns. As well, I would think that induced heading loss would harm sleep, because of the likely depression to go with loss of hearing. $\endgroup$– Cynic WildJul 12, 2015 at 16:11
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Let's firstly differentiate deafness - profoundly impaired ability to hear, and other states where the subjects can still hear at different degrees.
Secondly, differentiate the congenital deafness & infantile hearing loss and hearing loss in adults who previously had normal hearing.
The subjects with congenital and very early infantile hearing loss would have better sleep characteristics (this state will affect psychological state in a lesser degree than one acquired in more mature & "conscious" state), while persons who have lost their normal hearing would have abnormal sleep patterns at least in the period when they have just realized that they are going to lose their hearing. After this "preliminary" period, the sleep pattern should be dependent on the person's psychological status and other similar factors.
Many persons will mention that while using ear plugs they feel that their sleep is better comparing with "un-plugged" sleep.
sources
Characteristics of sleep in deafness. Rev Neurol. 1998 Jun;26(154).
Non-scientific source.
Please pay attention that scientific sources are scarce, thus take the answer as one of limited evidence.
