Neuroscience: Sleep disorders, hearing loss share common biological mechanisms

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 3 people worldwide suffer from sleep disorders at some point in their lives. Understanding the impact of these disorders on other aspects of human experience is thus of the utmost importance, as it could inform the development of new interventions aimed at improving people's sleep patterns, as well as their health and quality of life, reports Medical Xpress.

While the link between sleep disorders and hearing loss has been extensively investigated, the extent to which one influences the other remains poorly understood. Some studies have proposed that hearing loss makes it harder for people to sleep well, while others suggest that sleep disorders can worsen auditory health.

Researchers at Air Force Medical University in China recently reviewed previous literature focusing on this topic, with the aim of painting a clearer picture of the relationship between sleep disorders and hearing loss. Their paper, published in Neuroscience, pin-points some of the key biological mechanisms underpinning both disrupted sleep patterns and a decline in auditory health while also offering insight that could guide the development of new treatments for sleep disorders.

The review of previous studies carried out by this team of researchers suggests that different stages of sleep can influence auditory perception in distinct ways. For instance, people's ability to process sounds appears to be significantly stronger during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep than during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Past research also showed that hearing loss can adversely impact the quality of sleep among affected individuals. This could be because people experiencing hearing loss are often more sensitive to background noise, and this can make it harder for them to fall asleep or prompt them to wake up more often during the night.

On the other hand, other studies showed that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of auditory impairments later in life. While the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still poorly understood, in some cases, successfully treating sleep disorders could also promote better auditory health.

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