Hearing loss may be an indicator of cardiovascular disease. Since the inner ear is very sensitive to changes in blood flow, changes in hearing are often linked to cardiovascular disease. Low-frequency hearing loss in particular, is associated with various cardiovascular issues, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, and heart attack. One study compared audiologic and cardiovascular findings from more than 1,000 patients and found a significant association between cardiovascular disease and low-frequency hearing loss (Friedland et al., 2009). A hearing test may even be used as a screening tool to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease for an individual. If you have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, have a baseline screening test done with your audiologist. By doing this, it is much easier to track and treat hearing loss in it’s early stages.
Just as poor cardiovascular health is associated with hearing loss, improved cardiovascular health may also improve the function of the peripheral and central auditory system. There is a significant positive relationship between better cardiovascular health and health of the auditory system, particularly among older adults (Hull & Kerschen, 2010). Since research shows that hearing loss may be linked to other health issues, the Better Hearing Institute recommends that adults over the age of forty have hearing tested as a part of their routine medical care.
Remember it is important to keep your heart healthy to help keep you hearing healthy. Do a little exercise each day!
For more information about hearing loss and how you can schedule your testing please contact Hearing Partners of South Florida Delray – 561-638-6530 Boynton – 561-736-6002 Jupiter – 561-888-7260
