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Could singing lessons be a cure for snoring?
Last updated at 23:52pm on 25.10.06
Charley Hupp: He had to use this device to keep his airway open at night before Alise Ojay's methods cured his snoring
Doctors are studying whether a life threatening sleep disorder can be cured by singing after a patient made a full recovery.
Experts are now seeking volunteers for a scientific study how a course in vocal exercises can help those suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
American patient Charley Hupp, aged 82, believes his apnoea has been cured by using a regime called Singing for Snorers which was devised by British musician Alise Ojay.
Apnoea is an illness which causes patients to stop breathing suddenly during their sleep, causing serious insomnia and sometimes leading to death.
The conventional treatment is to wear a cumbersome nose and face mask but patients complain they find it difficult to sleep in it.
Alise, from Exeter, Devon, has produced tapes and books which teach how apnoea sufferers and other snorers can strengthen the muscles inside their mouths and throat.
The tapes do not contain recognisable songs but instead a series of scales and voice exercises.
Scientists at Exeter University and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are now carrying out a study into the effectiveness of the programme and are still seeking volunteers.
Retired engineer Mr Hupp, from Arizona, is so grateful to Alise he has flown to Britain to thank her for devising the treatment, which he learned about from a BBC World Service programme.
He said: "I felt the effect within a month of starting to do the exercises and now I feel like I am reborn.
"I fell like two million dollars when I wake up each morning and it is all thanks to this remarkable lady."
Alise said: "The hospital are still looking for more volunteers for the trial so anyone who is suffering from apnoea and not receiving treatment should ask their GP to refer them."
Reader views (5)
I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. The score on the conventional metric, AHI, was 40. The singing exercises cured me. I will be 85 years of age in May and I am able to work at a job 5 days a week. As a research scientist, I am inclined to disregard "conventional wisdom". The AHI thing is flawed. You can tell if you stop breathing. Ask your bed partner. In addition, you can get a pulse oxymeter for a little over $100 and tell if your blood oxygen saturation is dropping to an unsatisfactory level. I have a CD player in my car, so do the exercises while going to work - no time lost. I just miss the news (mostly garbage) sp I am not missing anything important or useful.
- Charley Hupp, Kingman, AZ USA
This is a very informative article. I would really like to have some more information about singing lessons for sleep apnea like this article is refering to. So if anyone knows where I can get these sleep lessons for sleep apnea in chicago please let me know. Also if these is a website on singing lessons for sleep apnea can anyone please send me a link to my email or post it up here for me? thank you for any help that anyone can provide .
- Michelle Hassan, Chicago, IL
I have successfully completed the "Singing for Snorers" course, the singing exercises seem to have reduced my snoring levels dramatically and they have apparantly reduced my apnoeas so much that the sleeping clinic that I attend did not think it necessary to continue with CPAP treatment. The singing exercises are not "regular singing", they target specific areas like the soft pallet and the palatao-pharangeal arch (don't know whether I spelled that right!) those are the muscles that relax and contract the uvula (the bit that hangs down at the back of your throat) Other exercises target the base of the tongue, the mid section, back of the tongue, the pharynx.....etc.
- Ken,, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, U.K.
I'm hoping to find snoring lessons somewhere, as I'm constantly singing in my sleep.
- Mark, Helsingborg, Sweden
A great idea in theory.
Unfortunately I don't think it will work for everyone. My husband is a singer and has been singing professionally in musical theatre for around 15 years and he snores all the time!
- C, London
