Influence of fitness on susceptibility to noise-induced temporary threshold shift.
OBJECTIVE
Two earlier reports indicated that cardiovascular fitness attenuates susceptibility to noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) in hearing sensitivity; however, other parameters of fitness also may be related to this phenomenon. This study investigated the association of three different physical fitness indicators on TTS.


METHODS
Maximal aerobic power (VO2max), body composition. and recent activity history were determined in 33 normal-hearing females of various fitness levels. Audiometric thresholds were obtained at 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz before and immediately after 10 min of exposure to 108-dB SPL narrow-band noise centered at 2000 Hz.


RESULTS
All postnoise measurements were significantly less than prenoise measurements (P < 0.0001) with the greatest TTS occurring at 3000 Hz. Similarly, the strongest Pearson-product correlations for VO2max, % fat, and recent activity history with TTS occurred at 3000 Hz (r = -0.68, 0.60, -0.59, respectively; P < 0.05). Canonical correlation analysis indicated a moderate correlation between physical fitness and TTS (Rc = 0.71: P < 0.01). Individually, VO2max, % fat, and recent activity history had correlations of -0.70, 0.62, and -0.63, respectively, to the TTS canonical variable.


CONCLUSIONS
From these results, we concluded that there is a moderate association of physical fitness and diminished temporary hearing loss experienced after noise exposure.
Kolkhorst
F W
FW
School of Health, Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls 50614-0241, USA. fred.kolkhorst@uni.edu
Smaldino
J J
JJ
Wolf
S C
SC
Battani
L R
LR
Plakke
B L
BL
Huddleston
S
S
Hensley
L D
LD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001305:Auditory Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*