Snoring with or without daytime drowsiness, restless sleep, or apnoea may be signs of breathing problems during sleep. Our Sleep Clinic offers both surgical and non-surgical management for a range of sleep problems.

The primary disorders that may need surgical intervention are snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnoea.

Snoring

Snoring is an undesirable sound caused by the soft tissue of the upper airway during sleep. This poses an issue for both patients and their bed or dwelling partner. In some cases, snoring may be suggestive of something more serious.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or OSA is a sleep disorder in which airflow is reduced or stops. This can range in severity, from mild to severe. Alcohol and other sedatives increase the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Symptoms of OSA include snoring, cessation of breathing witnessed by a bed partner, excessive daytime drowsiness, and difficulty with memory or cognition.

Treatment

Non-Surgical Snoring Solutions

The main stay of non-surgical treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP. This requires patients to wear a nasal mask at night.

Patients who are referred for surgical evaluation often report failed treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. Treatment with CPAP usually fails because the patient cannot tolerate or dislikes the  CPAP facial appliance.

Mandibular Advancement Devices alter the position of the tongue and mandible to relieve upper airway obstruction. This has been shown to be as effective as CPAP, however long-term use has been associated with temporomandibular joint problems.

Behavioural treatment involves management through exercise and weight loss programmes. This has been shown to be as successful as medical or surgical intervention in the long-term management of OSA.

Surgical Treatment for Snoring

There are a number of surgical treatments available in the management of snoring.

Visit our sleep disorders page or download our Patient Information Brochure for more information.

If you are suffering from any snoring problems, please contact our Sleep Clinic on 02 9387 7360.