The primary endpoint was to determine the prevalence of vestibular hypofunction in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Secondary and tertiary objectives were to determine any correlation between vestibular hypofunction and the degree of sleep apnea and/or the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores, and the presence of comorbidities, respectively.

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should be aware that OSA patients may present with vestibular hypofunction; consider screening for vestibular dysfunction in this population, but await larger confirmatory studies before changing routine protocols.

Identifying a link between OSA and vestibular hypofunction could expand the audiologist's role in managing patients referred from sleep medicine and ENT clinics.

1. 01Study examined prevalence of vestibular hypofunction specifically in OSA patients.
2. 02Published in European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, a peer-reviewed ENT journal.
3. 03Findings suggest OSA may be an underrecognised risk factor for balance system impairment.
4. 04Results could inform interdisciplinary screening protocols between sleep and vestibular clinics.

PMID

42115425

DOI

10.1007/s00405-026-10221-z.

Journal

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea

Intervention

Vestibular function assessment