The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults: a research review.
OBJECTIVE
This article provides a comparative review of research that has been conducted over the past 60+ years on the influence of cardiovascular health on the function of the peripheral and central auditory systems, and findings on the influence of improvements in cardiovascular health on those same systems.


METHODS
Research spanning the past 6 decades reviewed for this article has both hypothesized and confirmed the cardiovascular system's effects on the peripheral and central auditory systems. A review of the influence of the cardiovascular system is presented in this article, and a potential new avenue for auditory rehabilitation is postulated. The review presented in this article does not represent all studies conducted in the topic area but does provide an in-depth look into this fascinating area of research.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems have been found through a sizable body of research that has been conducted over more than 6 decades. The most significant positive relationship between improved cardiovascular health and improvements in those auditory systems has been found among older adults. If that relationship continues to be confirmed, then a potential new avenue for auditory rehabilitation on behalf of adults who possess impaired auditory function may be discovered.
Wichita State University, KS 67260-0075, USA. ray.hull@wichita.edu
Raymond H
RH
Hull
Stacy R
SR
Kerschen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors