Hearing problems and cpap

Hi Everyone.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea in January this year and went on a apap machine for a month, then purchased a cpap machine and have been using that ever since. A resmed 9, and I think the pressure setting is about 8 (not sure if that's a low, high or median pressure).

About a week after I started using the machine, I noticed hearing distortion in my left ear. Basically it was sort of like someone who had really big speakers in their car, with the music up to loud. Yes, you can hear the music, but the panels on the car start vibrating at certain volumes distorting the music (best analogy I can come up with). I get distortion and reverberation on certain pitches (whistles at the train station, or my young kids screaming or yelling), mainly high pitched sounds. Sometimes the ear canal itself gets quite sore, and has lasted several weeks. I didn't make any connection with it and the apap/cpap machine until I recently went and saw a ear nose and throat specialist (who was very unhelpful by the way). He basically said theres nothing that can be done and was dismissive of my discomfort and hearing loss. won't be seeing him again

I have a badly deviated septum, and apparently my sinuses are quite constricted. he suggested the cpap machine I am now using could be forcing air into my Eustachian tube causing problems. I wanted to ask, if anyone else had similar problems, and if there was anything that they did to correct it? I am looking at surgery to correct the septum, and I understand that they have to break my nose to reset the bones as well. If anyone had similar problems, did surgery correct it. I really don't fancy the idea of spending the rest of my life with hearing problems in one ear (its the ear on the same side as the severely restricted nasal passage)? I never had any problems before using the apnea machine, and basically within a week of starting had ear problems

I'm still not 100% certain the cpap is the cause of the hearing problems, but I don't work in a loud environment and my music listening isn't excessive or regular so I don't know what else it could be. Any shared experiences or advice is appreciated

Thanks

You need to experiment with your humidity levels and different masks. Sometimes the sinus passages are irritated by the air flow. Some prefer damp air and others less damp air. Once they swell up it causes all sorts of issues in the ear, including possible infections (swelling creates lovely warm wet pockets where bacteria thrive).

You really need to find and ENT who is very familiar with cpap therapy.

I developed moderate hearing loss as a young child... have not noticed differences since starting cpap use. Many years ago I had a deviated septum repair due to a sinus problem, and ever since then have had trouble breathing through my right nostril... so I am a mouth breather. I suggest finding a really good ENT specialist who can evaluate everything with consideration to your cpap use.

I would suggest a university with ENT or audiology programs.
In these places a difficult or unusual case would be more likely viewed as a challenge, rather than a nuisance.
Your ENT is either stupid or lazy--bully for you for firing this slug.

I have been using a Resmed unit with nose pillows for a little over a year and with much success, although recently I have developed hearing loss in my right ear. This has now spread to my left ear. People sound like robots and music is seriously distorted my hearing has declined and I have a humming in my ears/head. This started on my right ear which is the same nostril that I have a devated septum. I recently read the post by soggysocks and notice alot of similarities. I have no dizziness nor vertigo. I have seen an ENT, Rumatologist, and an inner ear specialist none of when can figure out what is happening all test come back negative. I was curious to the few posts that I have read on here about hearing loss. I am going to stop using my CPAP for a few nights to see if this helps. Does anyone have any experience with this besides me and what have you done. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks