Are Sleep Apnea and Talking In Your Sleep Related?

Are Sleep Apnea and Talking In Your Sleep Related?

If you tend to talk in your sleep, you probably know about it: You’ve either been told by someone else who has heard your mid-slumber grumblings firsthand or you’ve woken yourself up with it.

Snoring caused by sleep apnea and talking in your sleep can both be disturbances to others trying to sleep within earshot of you, but are the two conditions otherwise related? Keep reading to find out!

Talking in Your Sleep AKA Somniloquy

Somniloquy is a common parasomnia disorder (a condition that causes an individual to exhibit abnormal behaviors while they’re sleeping, another example being sleepwalking) simply characterized by talking in your sleep. Sleep talking can range from incoherent mumbles to clear, fully-developed responses to conversations one has in their dreams.

Almost everyone talks in their sleep once or twice at some point in their lives, but some individuals are known by their families or roommates for consistently sleep talking throughout their lives.

Sleep Apnea and Talking in Your Sleep: Are They Related?

We’ve explained how sleep apnea can pose risks to your health and the quality of sleep for individuals and bedmates or others sleeping within earshot. 

But are sleep apnea and talking in your sleep somehow related or do they impact each other in some way?

Well, it depends. Parasomnias like sleep talking can be caused by anything that disturbs sleep, including sleep apnea. However, that doesn’t necessarily imply that one’s somniloquy is dangerous or that it is a sign of sleep apnea. 

Other disturbances to sleep that can lead to somniloquy include drinking alcohol, consuming caffeine or stimulant medications, or suffering from PTSD or REM sleep behavior disorder. Although sleep talking is a parasomnia itself, it can lead to other parasomnias, like insomnia, which can also result from sleep apnea.

What About Sleep Talking and TMJ Pain?

Although we’ve discovered that somniloquy may have some risks related to sleep apnea, it’s more likely to lead to TMJ pain. Just like grinding your teeth, talking in your sleep may put unnecessary stress on your jaw, and many people do both in their sleep! 

Luckily, there is more than one way to address sleep apnea and TMJ pain, regardless of whether you talk in your sleep (though somniloquy could potentially cause oral appliances to slip out of place, though most are properly fitted or adjustable to prevent this).

From parasomnias to sleep apnea to TMJ pain—no matter what sleep conditions you may be dealing with, our experts at TMJ & Sleep Solutions of Alabama can help. Call us at 205-874-9699 with questions about our practice or contact us to book an appointment today!