P072 The Association Between Snoring and Hearing Loss in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

BACKGROUND: Snoring is the commonest symptom of OSA, occurring in 70%-95% of patients. Snoring noise in severe OSA can reach, and exceed, peaks of 80 decibels(dB). This is a noise level at which permanent hearing loss can occur. Given the chronicity of OSA, patients may be exposed to harmful noise levels daily for many years. METHODS: All patients underwent an overnight diagnostic sleep study. Exclusion criteria included occupational noise exposure or previously diagnosed hearing loss or head injury. Calibrated and standardised Tecpel 332 Sound-Pressure-Level meters recorded quantitative sound data. In addition to standard analysis and reporting, a customised report generated snoring and sound indices during sleep time. Participants then underwent otoscopy, tympanogram and pure tone audiometric examination. Progress to Date To date 14 eligible patients have been enrolled. 3/14 have completed all investigations. 3/3 have hearing loss. AHI range was 8.5–39.5 and maximum snore sound range was 78.4–98.3dB. The average snores per hour was 340.3 and mean total snores during sleep time 1741. Mean oxygen saturation nadir 87.6%. These initial results suggest a correlation between snore noise and hearing loss. We aim to include 25 patients in this pilot study. Intended Outcome and impact We hypothesise a direct relationship between snoring loudness and exposure in patients with OSA, and hearing loss due to prolonged noise exposure. Noise-induced hearing loss is irreversible, but the extent of loss may be reduced with intervention. This pilot study has the potential to benefit patients by demonstrating the effects of snoring in OSA on hearing.