Objective: To study the cochlear function of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
Methods: Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAEs) of 28 patients with OSAHS were measured one week before uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and six months after UPPP.
Results: In these patients the prevalence of TEOAEs was 64.3%, its spectral energy was mainly distributed between 0.5-2 kHz, the amplitudes of DPOAEs between 0.5-8 kHz were reduced significantly, the prevalences of DPOAEs at 0.5-8 kHz were between 46.4%-89.3%. After UPPP, the prevalences of TEOAEs and DPOAEs were increased, the amplitudes of DPOAEs were in turn (22.50 +/- 16.70) dB SPL, (5.83 +/- 2.69) dB SPL, (0.69 +/- 3.83) dB SPL, (-2.50 +/- 2.45) dB SPL, (4.95 +/- 2.65) dB SPL, (4.48 +/- 3.07) dB SPL from 0.5 kHz to 8 kHz, the amplitudes of DPOAEs were significantly increased at 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 6 kHz, 8 kHz.
Conclusion: OSAHS can affect the cochlear function of the patients with OSAHS, UPPP can improve the cochlear function.