29 Oct The Surprising Link Between Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss Can Be Linked to Sleep Apnea
If you have or think that you have sleep apnea, a condition in which someone’s breathing is interrupted multiple times during sleep, you are probably aware of many of the negative effects it can have on your life. Some of them include heart disease, high blood pressure, daytime fatigue, frequent headaches and higher risk of diabetes. Did you know that it’s also linked to hearing loss and sudden deafness as well?
A large study involving nearly 14,000 subjects from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos was presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference. The results showed that:
- Sleep apnea caused both high and low frequency hearing impairment.
- Hearing impairment more greatly affected those with higher BMI.
- The negative effects on hearing that sleep apnea has may be a result of adverse effects “on vascular supply to the cochlea via inflammation and vascular remodeling or noise trauma from snoring.” Basically, inflammation in structures within the ear may reduce blood flow there and reduce the ability to hear.
People with some of these attributes are at a higher risk for developing sleep apnea:
- Male
- Large tonsils or tongue
- Family history of the condition
- Nasal disruption
Impaired auditory function can affect a person’s life negatively. It’s a big adjustment for someone who has never experienced it. It can decrease cognitive function and independence, and it can be embarrassing and inconvenient for the patient. In some cases, it may result in a decline in work performance or even depression. According to Hearing Loss Association of America, as hearing loss increases, job compensation declines. Hearing loss can also cause stress and higher blood pressure, or even tension headaches.
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