Sleep apnea, hearing loss and tinnitus

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may want to schedule a appointment to see a hearing care professional, too.

While researchers are still studying the relationship between the two, hearing loss and sleep apnea appear strongly linked, according to several studies published in the past few years. 

One, a study of nearly 14,000 people found that hearing impairment was more common among those who had a higher body mass index, snored and had severe sleep apnea. Study participants received in-home sleep apnea studies and on-site audiometric testing. 

Another, much smaller study found that among people with severe obstructive sleep apnea, those with the lowest oxygen levels were much more likely to have hearing impairment. 

What is sleep apnea?

There are several types, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This type of sleep apnea arises when the muscles and tissues around a person’s airway relax and block breathing. This causes a person to snore and frequently wake up, out of breath. Symptoms include snoring, gasping or choking while sleeping, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, irritability, learning or memory problems, mood swings, and dry throat upon waking in the morning. Sleep apnea should be treated, since it not only leads to exhaustion, it strains the heart and increases the risk of heart disease. 

How does sleep apnea affect hearing loss?

It’s not known for sure if sleep apnea directly causes hearing loss. However, sleep apnea reduces blood flow to the ears, which require a healthy supply of blood to work properly. Also, years of loud snoring may permanently damage ears’ sensitive hair cells, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of permanent hearing loss.

Hearing health professionals have known for some time that circulatory issues can cause hearing loss. Research indicates those with heart disease are more than 50 percent more likely to have some type of hearing impairment. According to the American Diabetes Association, patients with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss as those who do not. Smokers are more likely to develop hearing loss because the habit depletes oxygen levels in the inner ear. Untreated high blood pressure can also contribute to hearing loss as well as tinnitus, which is also known as ringing in the ears.

Both can negatively impact relationships

In addition to increasing your risk of many different types of health disorders, both hearing loss and sleep apnea can have a profoundly negative impact on your personal relationships. Bed partners are often the first to realize a person has sleep apnea, and the snoring and restlessness causes them to lose plenty of sleep, too. Add hearing loss to the mix, and you have a recipe for lots of frustration and poor communication.

More: The impact of hearing loss on relationships

What about tinnitus and sleep apnea?

It’s well known that tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can make it hard to sleep and trigger insomnia. But what about its relationship to sleep apnea? There hasn’t been a lot of research on sleep apnea and hearing loss in general—and even less so when it comes to tinnitus. However, a 2017 case-control study in Taiwan did specifically look at the issue and found that “the risk of tinnitus was found to be significantly higher” in middle-aged and older people “with sleep disturbances, especially with sleep apnea.” It’s not know if one causes the other, or if other factors, such as genetics or lifestyle choices, increase a person’s risk for both disorders. We do know that treating sleep apnea increases the chance of a good night’s sleep, thereby reducing exhaustion and stress in a person’s life—which is always a good thing for tinnitus sufferers. 

Treatment is available 

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with your physician. Treatment may include lifestyle changes such as weight loss, smoking cessation, use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or oral breathing devices to wear at night, medicine to help you stay away during the day, and/or surgery to correct a blockage.

Meanwhile, a hearing healthcare professional can check your hearing, and if needed, provide hearing aids to help you hear better. Our online directory includes reviews of trusted professionals across the U.S. Many hearing care professionals also can help with tinnitus.

Read more: Risk factors for hearing loss that may surprise you