Sleep Apnea, Snoring & Hearing Loss

Sleep apnea has been tied to a number of extremely serious health issues, from obesity to heart disease. However, two recent studies have found that your hearing – and the hearing of your bed partner – may also be affected by the sleep disorder. Let's take a closer look at the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snoring, and hearing loss.

Hearing Loss in Sleep Apnea Sufferers

In 2014, a sleep apnea study conducted at Albany Medical Center found that there is a significant correlation between sleep apnea and hearing loss. The study, which was presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, could not determine the cause of the hearing loss, but adds evidence that sleep apnea is a chronic, systematic disease that affects much more than one's ability to get a good night's rest. The study involved almost 14,000 adult participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. All subjects were assessed for sleep apnea and hearing loss. About 10 percent suffered from at least moderate sleep apnea while about 20 percent had some form of hearing loss. Researchers found that sleep apnea was associated with a 31% increase in high frequency hearing impairment, a 90% increase in low frequency hearing impairment, and a 38% increase in combined high and low frequency hearing impairment. The study corrected for a number of variables, including gender, race, age, and other reasons for hearing loss (such as work environment).

Hearing Loss in the Bed Partners of Sleep Apnea Sufferers

Another study, this one focused on snoring instead of sleep apnea, found that the bed partners of snorers suffered from high-frequency hearing loss associated with noise exposure. This study, which was conducted at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, examined snorers and their bed partners between the ages of 35 and 55. All of the bed partners examined displayed hearing loss in the exposed ear located closest to the snorer, while only some of the snorers themselves displayed similar hearing loss.

The Cause of Sleep Apnea-Related Hearing Loss

Although signs point to a relationship between sleep apnea, snoring, and hearing loss, it is difficult to say how the three issues are related to each other without further study. The Ontario study suggests that the sound of snoring itself can impair the hearing of someone very close by – especially when it comes to high-frequency hearing loss. However, the American Thoracic Society study found that it is likely that sleep apnea sufferers have damaged hearing from an internal cause related to sleep apnea – perhaps that the vascular supply to the cochlea (a part of the inner ear) is harmed due to inflammation.

Surgical Solutions for Sleep Apnea

As you can see, sleep apnea is more than a snoring problem or a sleep deprivation problem; in fact, it can have long-term affects on a number of different aspects of your health, including your hearing (and the hearing of your partner). For this reason, some sufferers of moderate to severe sleep apnea are turning to surgery to find a permanent solution to their OSA. To learn more about this option, and whether you may be an ideal candidate, call our center today: (855) 560-7378 or contact us below. [gravityform id="14" title="false" description="true"]