The Link between Snoring and Hearing Loss

Snoring is a common problem (and often an annoyance for bed partners), but the unharmonious sounds made by a snorer are more than just an aggravation. Some research shows people who sleep in the same bed as those who snore may be at higher risk for hearing loss themselves.

As part of a study, researchers did two types of hearing tests to on healthy middle-aged adults with partners who snored. After analyzing the results, they found all four of the partners had high-frequency hearing loss in the ear in closest proximity to their snoring partner. Is snoring really loud enough to cause hearing damage? In general, sounds above 85 decibels have the potential to be damaging, and snores as loud as 100 decibels have been recorded.

Partners of those who snore aren’t the only ones at risk for hearing loss. Some people who snore at night have a condition called sleep apnea where they stop breathing for short periods during the night. These “pauses” happen as often as 30 or 40 times nightly. Sleep apnea itself is associated with a greater incidence of high- and low-frequency hearing loss as well as other health problems.

It’s not clear how sleep apnea causes hearing damage, but some evidence suggests that it injures a structure in the inner ear called the cochlea. It’s the cochlea that houses the tiny hair cells that transmit sound to the brain.

If you or your bed partner has a habit of snoring at night, get it evaluated to make sure it’s not sleep apnea. In addition, if you share a bed with a snoring partner, wear ear plugs to block the sounds of snoring – and don’t forget to get your hearing checked regularly.

Reference:

Sardesai, M. G., Tan, A. K., & Fitzpatrick, M. (2003). Noise-induced hearing loss in snorers and their bed partners. The Journal of Otolaryngology, 32(3), 141-145.