It can. Sleep apnoea affects your blood oxygen levels, which over time can also affect your hearing: people with even moderate sleep apnoea are more likely to have poorer high-pitched hearing, which can make it more difficult to understand speech when there is other noise around. In some cases, the vascular changes linked to sleep apnoea may also play a role in sudden hearing changes, so it’s worth knowing about sudden sensorineural hearing loss. More broadly, there’s a wider link between sleep difficulties and your hearing, which you can explore further on our Sleep & Hearing Health hub.