High-Frequency Hearing Loss and Decrease in High-Frequency Hearing Thresholds after Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Patients with Severe OSA

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that causes hypoxia which, in turn, causes cochlear dysfunction. Objectives: To determine whether Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) treatment has a positive or negative effect on hearing during 6-month follow-up of severe OSA. Methods: month of the PAP treatment. Results: = 0.01 and ρ = 0.58, respectively). Conclusion: High-frequency hearing threshold levels may show improvement with the use of PAP therapy. Also, the 8 kHz hearing levels may be used to predict high-frequency hearing loss and early cochlear damage.