The Relationship between Snoring Noise and Hearing Impairment in Snorers and Their Spouses / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Snoring is a condition that affects a large percentage of population and is associated with various medical and social complications. However, there are only few published reports investigating the effects of chronic snoring exposure on hearing. In the present study, we examined whether there is an association between chronic snoring noise exposure and noise induced hearing impairment not only in snorers but also in their spouses. Subjects and MethodZZSixty snorers and 27 spouses under the age of 55 were recruited. All participants had more than 5 years of exposure to snoring. Questionnaire for snoring and pure tone audiometry were conducted. Subjects were classified into normal hearing group and hearing impairment group. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Sixty snorers and 27 spouses under the age of 55 were recruited. All participants had more than 5 years of exposure to snoring. Questionnaire for snoring and pure tone audiometry were conducted. Subjects were classified into normal hearing group and hearing impairment group. RESULTS: Forty percent of snorers and 25.9% of spouses had hearing impairment. The snorers with hearing impairment had longer duration of snoring than the snorers with normal hearing. However, there were no statistical differences in loudness of snoring between the two groups. In the spouse group, there were statistical differences in loudness of exposed snoring and in duration of snoring exposure between the hearing impairment group and the normal hearing group. CONCLUSION: The result of this study indicated that chronic exposure to snoring noise may be associated with hearing impairment in snorers and their spouses. But in the snorers, further studies are required to identify the factors other than snoring noise associated with hearing impairment.