Sleep disorders include a wide variety of conditions that can have serious consequences on general health. The most common sleep problem related to breathing is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) manifestations of this pathology are numerous including balance disorders....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists and vestibular clinicians should be aware that OSA is an under-recognized contributor to balance dysfunction; however, this review is preliminary and does not yet provide specific protocol changes — screen OSA-positive patients for vestibular symptoms as part of routine case history.
Establishing a mechanistic and clinical link between OSA and vestibular dysfunction opens a cross-disciplinary conversation between sleep medicine and audiology/vestibular rehabilitation.
- 01Review synthesizes evidence linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to vestibular dysfunction.
- 02Covers proposed physiopathological mechanisms, including hypoxia and autonomic dysregulation.
- 03Discusses treatment approaches targeting both OSA and resulting balance problems.
- 04Highlights a gap in awareness of OSA as a vestibular risk factor among clinicians.
- 05Published in Frontiers in Sleep — peer-reviewed journal article.
Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to vestibular dysfunction through identifiable physiopathological mechanisms.
studypartially supportedTreatment of OSA may improve vestibular symptoms in affected patients.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42921035
- DOI
- 10.3389/frsle.2026.1750104.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Sleep
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 5
- Population
- Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and vestibular dysfunction
- Intervention
- Review of physiopathological mechanisms and treatment approaches for vestibular dysfunction in OSA
Primary outcomes
Physiopathological mechanisms linking OSA to vestibular dysfunction; Treatment approaches for vestibular dysfunction in OSA patients