The UPPP – a treatment to reduce noise exposure by snoring

Purpose To test the effect of an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with tonsillectomy on the reduction of nocturnal noise exposure.

Methods In 15 patients (14 male, 28 - 61a, mean value 44.4a), acoustic measurements were made once before soft palate surgery and after completion of treatment. Besides respiratory parameters (e.g. AHI), acoustic values such as perceived loudness, the 5th percentile of loudness (N₅) and the mean value of roughness (R_mean) were measured. From these parameters, the perceived annoyance caused by snoring, the Psychoacoustic Snore Score (PSS), was calculated.

Results The UPPP with tonsillectomy improved the sleep-related breathing disorder (AHI decreased from 18.7 to 6.5 events per hour). The loudness N₅ was 4.4 sone before soft palate surgery and 2.2 sone at night after the treatment. The mean of roughness decreased from 6.7 to 3.7 asper and the PSS from 33.2 to 12.8. In relation to the hour with the proportionately longest snoring time, the PSS decreased from 42.6 to 21.3.

Conclusion The UPPP with tonsillectomy improves not only the sleep-related breathing disorders, it also decreases the nocturnal noise exposure due to snoring. Using an objective psychophysical algorithm (PSS), it was possible to demonstrate this for the first time without the bias caused by bed partners and thus also seems to have a positive effect on them.

Poster-PDF A-1442.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021