"please keep me updated about oximeters "
Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
New? Free Sign Up
Then check our Welcome Center to a Community Caring about Sleep Apnea diagnosis and Sleep Apnea treatment:
CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea surgery and dental appliances.
CPAP Supplies
Latest Activity
Sleep Apnea and Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears)
Has anyone else experienced ringing in the ears associated with their sleep apnea? I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 5 years ago. I began having moderate to severe ringing in my ears about 2 years ago. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 10 years ago. Is there a progression here that is common to others with sleep apnea?
Views: 8266
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by David Heavrin on
-
Yes I do some times and some times my ears get pluged up and when I talk it sounds like im putting my fingers in my ears when I talk.
-
Permalink Reply by Kathleen Pearlman on
-
I had the ringing in my ears before I was diagnosedd with sleep apnea. I don't have high blood pressure. So I'm not sure...
-
-
I have had tinnitus for a long time, and probably sleep apnea, too, but seems tinnitus is related to my cervical alignment. Any time my ringing gets worse, I know it is time to go get my neck cracked! The chiropractor told me that tinnitus was the reason chiropracty (?) was started..I know it sure works for me! I still have the background humming that I have been aware of my whole life, when it is very quiet, but when my neck is out, it is much worse..also, sitting here on the recliner right now is making the humming worse..any sitting with my head bowed forward will make it worse..I take my own pillows when I travel, as those mile high pillows will put my neck out every time and start the humming..
Of course, the tinnitus can probably be caused by several things, I will have to keep my eye on the apnea connection..
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on
-
This may be a controversial statement, but I think tinnitus is strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnea. It's been shown that untreated sleep apnea patients have multiple areas of brain issue injury and damage, especially in the are of the brainstem where the auditory nerves enter (as well as other various areas). Brainstem auditory nerve testing has been shown to be significant more diminished in sleep apnea patients, with more viscous (thicker) blood that's more prone to clot and block small arteries. Treating sleep apnea with either CPAP or diluting the patient's blood improved these brainstem responses to sound waves. The inner ear has a very delicate vascular supply and any slowing, clotting or blockage of this vessel can have devastating consequences on any part of auditory/vestibular system.
Traditionally, tinnitus is treated as a neurologic problem to many different and conflicting explanations and treatment options. Unfortunately, there's no definitive cure for this all too common condition. What I've seen, however, is that almost every patient who comes in for tinnitus has the anatomy and history strongly suggestive for obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes, treating the sleep apnea definitively helps with the tinnitus. Unfortunately, since there can be various degrees of permanent nerve damage, and responses to OSA are inconsistent.
-
Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
-
Dr. Park just thinking out loud here.. could there be an association between Ménière's syndrome and sleep apnea. A few of my patients have had surgery for Ménière's syndrome and have sleep apnea. just wondering if the two could have some corellation in development.
Steven Y. Park, MD said:This may be a controversial statement, but I think tinnitus is strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnea. It's been shown that untreated sleep apnea patients have multiple areas of brain issue injury and damage, especially in the are of the brainstem where the auditory nerves enter (as well as other various areas). Brainstem auditory nerve testing has been shown to be significant more diminished in sleep apnea patients, with more viscous (thicker) blood that's more prone to clot and block small arteries. Treating sleep apnea with either CPAP or diluting the patient's blood improved these brainstem responses to sound waves. The inner ear has a very delicate vascular supply and any slowing, clotting or blockage of this vessel can have devastating consequences on any part of auditory/vestibular system.
Traditionally, tinnitus is treated as a neurologic problem to many different and conflicting explanations and treatment options. Unfortunately, there's no definitive cure for this all too common condition. What I've seen, however, is that almost every patient who comes in for tinnitus has the anatomy and history strongly suggestive for obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes, treating the sleep apnea definitively helps with the tinnitus. Unfortunately, since there can be various degrees of permanent nerve damage, and responses to OSA are inconsistent.
-
-
Tinnitus is often difficult to treat since it's not well understood. One theory worth exploring is the relationship between sleep apnea and clenching habit. Clenchinbg is thought to be a consequence of apnea and the brains attempt to get more air. Ask your dentist for a night guard device and you may see some help.
-
-
I treat all my Meniere's patients as if they had an underling sleep-breathing problem along with a regimen suited for migraines, with pretty good success. A migraine attack can happen anywhere in the body where there are nerve endings. If the nerves are overstimulated and go haywire, you'll get symptoms specific to the location: if in the scalp muscles and brain, you'll get the classic migraine, if in the sinuses the classic sinus headache, post-nasal drip and pressure, constipation, diarrhea and bloating in the stomach, and vertigo, hearing loss and ringing for the inner ear.
Initially, I treat conservatively for these conditions, such as diet and alcohol timing, positional changes, stress reduction and nasal optimization for the sleep-breathing issue and avoiding certain triggers for migraines. I learned about these concepts from Dr. David Buchholz in his book, Heal Your Headache.
It's also not too surprising that in almost every situation, someone with Meniere's has the upper airway anatomy that's very suspicious, and usually one or both parents snore heavily with cardiovascular disease. Perhaps I should do a study using migraine medication for Meniere's....
D. W. Conn said:Dr. Park just thinking out loud here.. could there be an association between Ménière's syndrome and sleep apnea. A few of my patients have had surgery for Ménière's syndrome and have sleep apnea. just wondering if the two could have some corellation in development.
Steven Y. Park, MD said:This may be a controversial statement, but I think tinnitus is strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnea. It's been shown that untreated sleep apnea patients have multiple areas of brain issue injury and damage, especially in the are of the brainstem where the auditory nerves enter (as well as other various areas). Brainstem auditory nerve testing has been shown to be significant more diminished in sleep apnea patients, with more viscous (thicker) blood that's more prone to clot and block small arteries. Treating sleep apnea with either CPAP or diluting the patient's blood improved these brainstem responses to sound waves. The inner ear has a very delicate vascular supply and any slowing, clotting or blockage of this vessel can have devastating consequences on any part of auditory/vestibular system.
Traditionally, tinnitus is treated as a neurologic problem to many different and conflicting explanations and treatment options. Unfortunately, there's no definitive cure for this all too common condition. What I've seen, however, is that almost every patient who comes in for tinnitus has the anatomy and history strongly suggestive for obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes, treating the sleep apnea definitively helps with the tinnitus. Unfortunately, since there can be various degrees of permanent nerve damage, and responses to OSA are inconsistent.
-
-
I just started with Tinnitus about 30 days ago.. I've never had any king of ear related issues.. I had an episode that lasted for a couple of hours upon awakening one day.. The next morning I had the same but in both ears and it has not subsided at all in 30 days.
I've been to two ENT's they say get used to it.
After reading some articles. I've noticed that some CPAP users have auto adjust masks.. Do these help prevent hypoxia.. I believe there is a connection to lack of oxygen.
Advice
© 2025 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
