Confessions of a Snorer

Anti-snoring inventions are nothing new. Thousands of gizmos are registered with the United States Patent Office. One of the first appeared in 1900, when Jacob Baughman of Iowa received a patent for his "head-bandage," which forces the mouth closed during sleep. Gertrude Thomas followed in 1909 with her "chin mask." And ever since, like the quest for the 100-mile-per-gallon carburetor, the perpetual light bulb or the miracle anti-cellulite cream, Yankee ingenuity has continued to hunt for, and to profit from, a cure for snoring.

As to whether I still snore, the answer is yes, I do, but now I sound more like a content kitten than the roaring lion of yore. Or so I like to think. And the device that works the best? A pair of airport-rated earplugs made by Israelis. For my wife.

Mike Gorman

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More About

• National Sleep Foundation
• Rob Simon
• Swedish Sleep Disorders Center
• Sleeping and Sleep Disorders
• Medicine

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Rob Simon co-foundedWestword in 1977, and was known for his ability to nap.