Snoring certainly affects the sleep pattern of the snorer so restful sleep is difficult. The snorer is not fully refreshed when he or she awakes and the effect on other members of the family can be even more devastating. Snoring can completely disrupt family life. Sleeping partners, even people trying to sleep in nearby rooms, can lose excessive amounts of sleep and this often causes resentment. In a survey carried out in 2001, 40% of the couples interviewed said that snoring had adversely affected their relationship and 80% of these couples had resorted to sleeping separately to escape the noise.