Sleep apnea affects at least 20 percent of the population, and causes pauses in breathing while people are asleep. But a recent study suggests that there may be more to sleep apnea than just pauses in breathing – it may also lead to sudden hearing loss.

Study Connects Sleep Apnea And Hearing Loss

Researchers from Taipei Medical University Hospital studied the journals of people with sleep apnea, and studied cases of people with sudden hearing loss. The study found that some patients suffered from sleep apnea before experiencing sudden hearing loss.

Inflammation Or Plaque Could Be The Cause

The connection between sleep apnea and hearing loss isn’t perfectly clear, but there are some good theories. Sleep apnea is known to cause a buildup of plaque in blood vessels and inflammation, and it is possible that this includes vessels between the ears and the brain, leading to diminished hearing.

Treatment Can Help

Sudden hearing loss doesn’t always affect both ears. It often affects one ear, and if treated quickly, can be overcome.

Men With Sleep Apnea Are More At Risk

The study accounted for lifestyle factors such as age and obesity (both of these are factors in sleep apnea and hearing loss). The study found that when these factors were corrected for, men with sudden hearing loss were 48 percent more likely to have been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea then men without hearing loss.

Do You Have Sleep Apnea? Call Us Today.

If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, or has had a sudden unexplained change in hearing, call us today to book a free hearing evaluation with one of our experienced audiologists. Our professionals will test your hearing to determine any impairment. Their understanding of hearing loss and other conditions will help them give you the best treatment available.