How to sleep with a snorer

Most people snore to some extent. However, when you have a partner that makes it seem like a freight train is coming when they are asleep, it can be a terrible thing. It may seem like they are snoring the entire night. At least it breaks up your sleep enough so that you never feel rested.

But don’t worry, there are a lot of things you can do to finally get that good night’s sleep – without resorting to moving to another room.

I am the snorer myself, and my girlfriend hates it. So I have done a lot of research into this topic and can help you find the best products and methods to get that good night’s sleep.

I’ll be covering earplugs you can use yourself to block out the noise, and things you can get for your partner to stop the snoring

When you have a snoring spouse, the snores may seem incredibly loud, but they will never be loud enough to actually damage your hearing. Well – that is not precisely true…. Let us just say it is very unlikely that your partner can snore that loud.

Guinness World Records state that the loudest snoring was recorded in 1949 by Kåre Walkert of Sweden, who suffered from the apnoea breathing disorder – They were recorded as snoring at 93dB. (For comparison, 95 dB is about the same volume as a motorcycle engine running).

Normal Snoring

“Normal” snoring usually falls between 60 – 75dB

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that if you are regularly exposed to noise of over 85dB in your place of work then you should be provided with ear protection. But snoring this loud is incredibly rare – even though at 3 am it seems like your spouse could break the world record.

When you are looking for ear plugs, you are still going to want them to block out as much of the noise as possible!

When buying ear plugs, their effectiveness is measured by the NNR (Noise Reduction Rating). The higher this value is, the more noise they block out. One point of NNR reduces the volume by 1 decibel. So if your spouse snores at 70dB, and the earplugs are rated at 25 NNR, then the effective volume will be 45dB. (This volume is rated a faint. Similar to a soft conversation in a library)

Wax Ear Plugs

Moldable wax ear plugs are an ideal solution for someone who has to deal with a snoring spouse. This type of ear plug is considered by most to be the most comfortable type of plug. It is molded to the exact shape of your ear.

The warmth of the ear keeps the wax slightly soft so that it is super comfortable. As it is molded into the shape of the ear, nothing protrudes, so they work great for side sleepers as well. Also because they are an exact fit, they do an excellent job of blocking out sound.

The disadvantages are that you can only wear each pair a couple of times, so they are not great for the environment. Also, when you first wear them, they can be a bit fiddly to put in. But after a few days you will be easily using these plugs.

Advantages

• Comfortable
• Side Sleeping
• Blocks a lot of sound
• Low price

Disadvantages

• Not great for the environment
• Can be fiddly when first used

Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask

This is the complete sleeping aid, blocking out light and playing music to help you sleep. If you look at the independent reviews on Amazon, you see that these have really transformed some people’s lives, helping them to sleep far more easily than they ever could before.

The speaker is very slim, so they are not uncomfortable when being worn. The play-time is about 9 hours, so be able to wear them for an entire night’s sleep. They are, of course, Bluetooth compatible and will easily connect to your android, IOS, or other Bluetooth enabled device.

The device also has a built-in microphone allowing you to talk on your phone hands-free while in bed. (Remember to put your phone into silent mode when sleeping!). Your phone’s alarm should sound via the speakers once it is time to wake up.

This device only masks the sound of snoring rather than blocking it. It plays music, etc. into the ears, and does not have any inserts to block sound.

Advantages

• Bluetooth Music
• Alarms
• Phone calls
• Blocks light

Disadvantages

• Only masks the sound of snoring

Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Ear Buds

These are like the above sleeping mask, and you put them in your ears when you are going to sleep. You can then connect them to your IOS, Android or any Bluetooth enabled device. Music, audiobooks or white noise is then streamed to you while you sleep.

As they are noise-canceling, they actively block any noise from a snorer while they are on. So they are better at reducing any sounds that may disturb you. As they do not have a microphone, you cannot make calls using this item, but you will still hear any alarm from your phone.

These are not held in place with a band like the sleeping mask, so if you toss and turn a lot in your sleep then they may become loose.

Again, if you follow the link to Amazon, you will see hundreds of independent reviews for the product, and from these be able to see if you think they will suit your needs. However, should you sleep with a spouse who snores heavily, find these are great for helping you sleep, and they can be used at other times to listen to music – unlike the sleeping mask.

Advantages

• Noise-canceling
• Can be used for multiple situations
• Alarms
• Bluetooth music

Disadvantages

• Easier to dislodge when sleeping

Soft Foam Ear Plugs / Reusable Ear Plugs

Both are very similar, you put them into your ears, and they block the sound. The fundamental difference is that the foam plugs are not reusable (well maybe once or twice), but they become dirty quickly and need to be replaced. The reusable ear plugs can be cleaned and reused. Reusable plugs are more expensive but are good for the environment, and after a few months the higher price will be offset as you are not continuously replacing them.

This type of plug can be used in many situations, not just for blocking the sound of a snoring partner. For example, shooting, yard work, noisy factory, they provide a great level of protection for your hearing.

They are not the best plugs for sleeping in, as they can protrude from your ears. This means that they are not great for side sleeping, and the plug will put pressure on the ear. As they stick out, they will be easy to dislodge when you move in your sleep.

This type of plug is probably a good “starter” sleeping plug. See if you can sleep with a snorer with these plugs in, and if it makes for a good night’s sleep, get some “better” plugs.

Advantages

• Cheap
• Readily available
• Can be used in a lot of noisy situations

Disadvantages

• No good for side sleeping
• Easily dislodged

Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"