13,967 volunteers participated, with about 10% of them found to have at least moderate sleep apnea. Among those volunteers with sleep apnea, there was found to be 90% increased risk of low frequency hearing impairment, a 31% percent increased risk of high frequency hearing impairment and the combined increased risk of high and low frequency hearing impairment was 38%. Other factors such as age and sex were adjusted for to keep the study accurate.
Sleep apnea is characterized by temporary pauses in breathing as a person sleeps. These episodes can occur as often as 100 times a night, depriving the body of oxygen. Sleep apnea has also been linked to other serious health risks such cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and early death.
Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, frequent awakenings during the night, loud snoring, or simply not waking up feeling refreshed. Keep in mind that not all sleep apnea sufferers have the same symptoms.
If you suspect that you have sleep apnea or any other problems that hold you back from getting the proper sleep you need, don’t hesitate speaking to a licensed physician or sleep specialist. Make sleep a priority in your life to be the best you that we know you can be!
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