Background: Despite the critical importance of sleep medicine within neurology, notable gaps in education and clinical practice persist among neurologists. This study aims to explore the extent of involvement and the challenges faced by Korean neurologists in sleep medicine, focusing on awareness of polysomnography training program, the operation of sleep study facilities, and educational exposure. Methods: An online survey collected responses from 233 neurologists, focusing on their demographics, knowledge of and involvement in sleep medicine, operation of sleep study facilities, and participation in residency training. Results: The findings indicated that 84.9% of neurologists were aware of polysomnography training program, primarily through professional societies. Nonetheless, 15.1% reported unfamiliarity with these initiatives, with 72.7% of this subgroup expressing interest in sleep medicine yet lacking access to information. In terms of clinical practice, 74 neurologists operated sleep study facilities, with 63% intending to expand. Key operational challenges included staff management, maintaining patient volumes, and inadequate institutional support. Among respondents from teaching hospitals, only 36 out of 114 reported active resident involvement in sleep study interpretations, predominantly hindered by excessive workloads and insufficient staffing. Conclusions A significant number of neurologists have an interest in sleep medicine; however, substantial challenges impede effective education and clinical practice. These results underscore the need for improved educational resources and institutional support to enhance the growth and effectiveness of sleep medicine practices among neurologists.

Background: Despite the critical importance of sleep medicine within neurology, notable gaps in education and clinical practice persist among neurologists. This study aims to explore the extent of involvement and the challenges faced by Korean neurologists in sleep medicine, focusing on awareness of polysomnography training program, the operation of sleep study facilities, and educational exposure. Methods: An online survey collected responses from 233 neurologists, focusing on their demographics, knowledge of and involvement in sleep medicine, operation of sleep study facilities, and participation in residency training. Results: The findings indicated that 84.9% of neurologists were aware of polysomnography training program, primarily through professional societies. Nonetheless, 15.1% reported unfamiliarity with these initiatives, with 72.7% of this subgroup expressing interest in sleep medicine yet lacking access to information. In terms of clinical practice, 74 neurologists operated sleep study facilities, with 63% intending to expand. Key operational challenges included staff management, maintaining patient volumes, and inadequate institutional support. Among respondents from teaching hospitals, only 36 out of 114 reported active resident involvement in sleep study interpretations, predominantly hindered by excessive workloads and insufficient staffing. Conclusions A significant number of neurologists have an interest in sleep medicine; however, substantial challenges impede effective education and clinical practice. These results underscore the need for improved educational resources and institutional support to enhance the growth and effectiveness of sleep medicine practices among neurologists.

Background: Despite the critical importance of sleep medicine within neurology, notable gaps in education and clinical practice persist among neurologists. This study aims to explore the extent of involvement and the challenges faced by Korean neurologists in sleep medicine, focusing on awareness of polysomnography training program, the operation of sleep study facilities, and educational exposure. Methods: An online survey collected responses from 233 neurologists, focusing on their demographics, knowledge of and involvement in sleep medicine, operation of sleep study facilities, and participation in residency training. Results: The findings indicated that 84.9% of neurologists were aware of polysomnography training program, primarily through professional societies. Nonetheless, 15.1% reported unfamiliarity with these initiatives, with 72.7% of this subgroup expressing interest in sleep medicine yet lacking access to information. In terms of clinical practice, 74 neurologists operated sleep study facilities, with 63% intending to expand. Key operational challenges included staff management, maintaining patient volumes, and inadequate institutional support. Among respondents from teaching hospitals, only 36 out of 114 reported active resident involvement in sleep study interpretations, predominantly hindered by excessive workloads and insufficient staffing. Conclusions A significant number of neurologists have an interest in sleep medicine; however, substantial challenges impede effective education and clinical practice. These results underscore the need for improved educational resources and institutional support to enhance the growth and effectiveness of sleep medicine practices among neurologists.

Tinnitus is a phenomenon of perceiving sounds in the absence of external auditory source, and it greatly influences the quality of paitent’s life. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus remains unclear, recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between tinnitus and sleep disorder, mainly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this context, this review study aimed to unravel the possible hypotheses regarding the correlation between tinnitus and OSA and to propose comprehensive mechanisms by which OSA may contribute to the occurrence or exacerbation of chronic tinnitus. Four main hypotheses are: 1) OSA can cause hearing loss, which consequently provokes tinnitus, 2) OSA-induced snoring sound can directly affect auditory organs and cause tinnitus, 3) OSA can worsen sleep quality, which could lead to tinnitus, and 4) tinnitus can be caused by a continuous positive airway pressure machine itself. Further research to evaluate chronic tinnitus with objective testing methods such as neuroimaging modalities or biomarkers is crucial to elucidating the correlation between OSA and tinnitus and apply into clinical treatment.

Tinnitus is a phenomenon of perceiving sounds in the absence of external auditory source, and it greatly influences the quality of paitent’s life. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus remains unclear, recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between tinnitus and sleep disorder, mainly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this context, this review study aimed to unravel the possible hypotheses regarding the correlation between tinnitus and OSA and to propose comprehensive mechanisms by which OSA may contribute to the occurrence or exacerbation of chronic tinnitus. Four main hypotheses are: 1) OSA can cause hearing loss, which consequently provokes tinnitus, 2) OSA-induced snoring sound can directly affect auditory organs and cause tinnitus, 3) OSA can worsen sleep quality, which could lead to tinnitus, and 4) tinnitus can be caused by a continuous positive airway pressure machine itself. Further research to evaluate chronic tinnitus with objective testing methods such as neuroimaging modalities or biomarkers is crucial to elucidating the correlation between OSA and tinnitus and apply into clinical treatment.

Tinnitus is a phenomenon of perceiving sounds in the absence of external auditory source, and it greatly influences the quality of paitent’s life. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus remains unclear, recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between tinnitus and sleep disorder, mainly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this context, this review study aimed to unravel the possible hypotheses regarding the correlation between tinnitus and OSA and to propose comprehensive mechanisms by which OSA may contribute to the occurrence or exacerbation of chronic tinnitus. Four main hypotheses are: 1) OSA can cause hearing loss, which consequently provokes tinnitus, 2) OSA-induced snoring sound can directly affect auditory organs and cause tinnitus, 3) OSA can worsen sleep quality, which could lead to tinnitus, and 4) tinnitus can be caused by a continuous positive airway pressure machine itself. Further research to evaluate chronic tinnitus with objective testing methods such as neuroimaging modalities or biomarkers is crucial to elucidating the correlation between OSA and tinnitus and apply into clinical treatment.

Tinnitus is a phenomenon of perceiving sounds in the absence of external auditory source, and it greatly influences the quality of paitent’s life. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus remains unclear, recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between tinnitus and sleep disorder, mainly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this context, this review study aimed to unravel the possible hypotheses regarding the correlation between tinnitus and OSA and to propose comprehensive mechanisms by which OSA may contribute to the occurrence or exacerbation of chronic tinnitus. Four main hypotheses are: 1) OSA can cause hearing loss, which consequently provokes tinnitus, 2) OSA-induced snoring sound can directly affect auditory organs and cause tinnitus, 3) OSA can worsen sleep quality, which could lead to tinnitus, and 4) tinnitus can be caused by a continuous positive airway pressure machine itself. Further research to evaluate chronic tinnitus with objective testing methods such as neuroimaging modalities or biomarkers is crucial to elucidating the correlation between OSA and tinnitus and apply into clinical treatment.