Wellness

[151949]

A local Pittsburgh TV channel is talking about people who have sleep apnea having a greatly increased chance of suffering hearing loss.I have sleep apnea and do sleep with a CPAP every night and I also am experiencing some hearing loss, so I am interested in hearing more about this.

You can read about the subjects they discuss at KDKA.com. Probably won't be there til after the 6PM news tonight.

[rusty523]

That's interesting to hear because I've had sleep apnea for over 20 years now and have fantastic hearing. My husband always comments on good I can hear with the volume turned down very low on the TV.

[151949]

They studied 1400 people and found a 30 to 90 % increase in hearing loss in those with sleep apnea. And they do not yet know why.

[willdob3]

That is odd but it does not mean one causes the other. It will be helpful when research gives more answers.

I wonder if there could be a related blockage causing the hearing loss...?

I'd also wonder about treated vs untreated people.

[Jersey Born]

Perhaps the hearing loss is due to the constant noise the CPAP machine makes as it blasts out air directly into the faces of those using the machines? That makes sense to me, but perhaps those studied also regularly attend rock concerts, go to loud bars at night, or listen to loud music on their Ipods using headphones or other ear devices. Who knows?

[arrabella]

On 6/13/2014 Jersey Born said:

Perhaps the hearing loss is due to the constant noise the CPAP machine makes as it blasts out air directly into the faces of those using the machines? That makes sense to me, but perhaps those studied also regularly attend rock concerts, go to loud bars at night, or listen to loud music on their Ipods using headphones or other ear devices. Who knows?

My DH uses a CPAP and I can’t hear it running at all. Hoping more research is done on this issue.

[TootyJane]

My dh was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 1 year ago and uses a CPAP machine. Personally I think his hearing is not what it used to be but that started before he was diagnosed. I'll have to read up on this. Thanks for posting.

[Lexie]

On 6/13/2014 Jersey Born said:

Perhaps the hearing loss is due to the constant noise the CPAP machine makes as it blasts out air directly into the faces of those using the machines? That makes sense to me, but perhaps those studied also regularly attend rock concerts, go to loud bars at night, or listen to loud music on their Ipods using headphones or other ear devices. Who knows?

I have had a CPAP machine for 5 years and my hearing is excellent. The machine does not have anything to do with loss of hearing. The machine is so quiet!!!

[AuntG]

Wonder what the tie in would be?

[TootyJane]

I decided to go look to the website www.kdka.com to read the article. Some key points: (1) this was a study of 14,000 people in a Hispanic community; (2) sleep apnea is linked to a 30 to 90 percent increase in certain types of hearing loss; and (3) the two conditions could be related by the noise and vibration of snoring damaging the inner ear. Or, inflammation associated with sleep apnea could affect the blood supply to the inner ear.

This is what the article said:

"Sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

Now, add hearing loss to the list.

In research presented at a chest surgeons’ meeting, 14,000 people in a Hispanic community study were evaluated for their backgrounds, lifestyles, health conditions, and noise exposure. They also had in-home sleep studies and hearing tests.

When all factors were taken into account, the researchers found sleep apnea is linked to a 30 to 90 percent increase in certain types of hearing loss.

The two conditions could be related by the noise and vibration of snoring damaging the inner ear. Or, inflammation associated with sleep apnea could affect the blood supply to the inner ear.

The study hints at a pattern, but not a cause and actually raises more questions.

“One thing to do is to look at patients who have hearing loss and treat their sleep apnea, and see, is it irreversible? Did it get better if you treat that? Or of you caught them early enough, and you’re treating sleep apnea patients, what is their incidence or prevalence of hearing loss later on?” Allegheny General Hospital Sleep Specialist Dr. Daniel Shade said.

More research will have to be done to see if the findings hold up in a broader population, but it has Dr. Shade thinking about broadening the testing in his obstructive sleep apnea patients.

“We haven’t been routinely screening all of our OSA patients for hearing loss. So, this is interesting. It could change practice,” Dr. Shade said."

Hope this helps answer some of your questions.