OBJECTIVES: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an effective therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but its potential auditory side effects are not well studied. This study aims to determine the baseline prevalence of tinnitus in Inspire recipients and assess and characterize new auditory perceptions occurring specifically during device activation.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists seeing patients with hypoglossal nerve stimulators should be aware that auditory side effects (such as perceived sounds or hearing changes) are a documented phenomenon, but findings are too preliminary for practice-changing guidance without reviewing the full study data.
As hypoglossal nerve stimulation becomes a more common sleep apnea therapy, audiologists need to recognize and document its potential auditory side effects in implanted patients.
- 01Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an implanted device therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
- 02The study specifically examined auditory perceptions—such as phantom sounds or hearing changes—as side effects of HNS.
- 03Auditory side effects from HNS are not widely characterized in the literature, making this a relatively novel area of inquiry.
- 04Findings may be relevant for audiologists co-managing patients who use HNS devices.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed journal (doi: 10.1002/lio2.70550).
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea is associated with auditory perceptions (sounds or hearing changes) as a side effect.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42694569
- DOI
- 10.1002/lio2.70550.
- Journal
- Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Patients receiving hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy for obstructive sleep apnea
- Intervention
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (implanted device therapy for OSA)
Primary outcomes
Auditory perceptions (perceived sounds or hearing changes) associated with hypoglossal nerve stimulation