Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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bettiola
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Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by bettiola » Sun Jul 05, 2015 11:04 pm

Last fall I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation which led to my diagnosis of severe sleep apnea, which I've probably had for years. I am a relative newbie, having been using the CPAP for a little over 3 months. I also have severe to moderate senseroneural hearing loss, worse in my left ear than right, and have been wearing hearing aids for about 10 years. In searching the web for information about sleep apnea (which is how I found this very helpful website!) I learned that some studies show a link between sleep apnea and hearing loss. The medical professionals I've asked about this are not familiar with the link. Bearing in mind that correlation and causation are two different things, I wonder if any of you know any more about this and I'm wondering if there has ever been a pole taken here on how many of us CPAP users have a hearing loss. (Being a newbie, forgive me if I'm repeating material that has already been discussed.)

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49er
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by 49er » Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:55 am

Hi bettiola,

For what it is worth, I was initially diagnosed with a mild hearing loss several years ago and diagnosed with apnea in 2012 although I suspect I have had it alot longer. Hard to say what mine is due to since I worked in a very noisy place at the time of the initial diagnosis and I was taking psych meds with ototoxic properties.

49er
bettiola wrote:Last fall I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation which led to my diagnosis of severe sleep apnea, which I've probably had for years. I am a relative newbie, having been using the CPAP for a little over 3 months. I also have severe to moderate senseroneural hearing loss, worse in my left ear than right, and have been wearing hearing aids for about 10 years. In searching the web for information about sleep apnea (which is how I found this very helpful website!) I learned that some studies show a link between sleep apnea and hearing loss. The medical professionals I've asked about this are not familiar with the link. Bearing in mind that correlation and causation are two different things, I wonder if any of you know any more about this and I'm wondering if there has ever been a pole taken here on how many of us CPAP users have a hearing loss. (Being a newbie, forgive me if I'm repeating material that has already been discussed.)

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tooter
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by tooter » Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:55 am

Gradual hearing loss is normal as we age whether OSA is involved or not.

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/tc/a ... c-overview
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library lady
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by library lady » Mon Jul 06, 2015 12:44 pm

I don't know if there is a correlation between the two or not, but I was diagnosed with hearing loss as a child in 1949 and started first grade with hearing aids. My OSA diagnosis occurred in February 2014. I would guess that there's no correlation between the two but I have not seen studies to substantiate it.

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USMC - Retired
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by USMC - Retired » Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:27 pm

My wife blames her hearing loss on my sleep apnea...

Pre CPAP of course.
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chunkyfrog
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:08 pm

One bad ear (moderate loss), very gradual loss for years since I was a kid.
Infection after too much fun in a stock tank full of cold water.
Loss not noticed until tinnitis was bad enough to affect my disposition.
Since I only need one aid, I treat myself to a new one every 3 or 4 years.

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bettiola
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by bettiola » Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:49 pm

Thanks all for your input! I do know that hearing loss increases with age, but these studies show a correlation even when adjusting for age-related hearing loss:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 152949.htm
https://www.sleepapnea.com/blog/post/95 ... ur-hearing

This seems to be a relatively new discovery so not much is known at this point. I'm hoping there will soon be follow-up research. I would love it if treating my severe sleep apnea could improve my hearing, even a little, but I'm not counting on it!

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Krelvin
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by Krelvin » Mon Jul 06, 2015 3:36 pm

Would not expect using CPAP to improve damaged hearing.
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chunkyfrog
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Jul 06, 2015 7:53 pm

It does make sense, especially with nerve-related hearing loss.
Hypoxia and inflammation both take a toll on neural tissue.
Reducing inflammation might actually help.

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Tassie Devil
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Re: Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Post by Tassie Devil » Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:22 pm

I would doubt there is a link although we are all different so it could apply to some.

I am suffering increasing hearing loss (and of course am a CPAP candidate) but suspect it is genetic in my case - my mother was increasingly deaf in her later years. I was always careful to use ear plugs and muffs when operating noisy machinery although cannot discount it had an affect.

Maybe OLDER AGE -> both hearing and sleeping difficulties to people but that does not prove a link between them.

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