The possible role of Vicorder® apparatus in the diagnostic protocol of inner ear diseases

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular risk factors are widely reputed to be a possible cause for hearing impairment, and the role of arterial stiffness as a cardiovascular risk predictor has been recently emphasized. For these reasons pulse wave velocity (PWV) could represent a useful parameter in order to rapidly assess or rule out the existence of an underlying overall deteriorating circulatory condition in cases of inner ear impairment.

Method: In order to assess the real significance of PWV for audiological purposes, a study was carried out comparing this parameter in subjects with normal hearing and those with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss.

Results: The results suggested an apparent lack of correlation between arterial stiffness and hearing deterioration.

Conclusion: The findings appear to indicate that the relationship between systemic circulation and inner ear function, when excluding acute and/or well identifiable impairment factors, is not as linear as expected.

Key words:

• arterial stiffness
• cardiovascular risk
• hearing loss

Acknowledgements

This work has been conducted with funding of the Italian Ministry for Universities and with a grant from the ‘Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna’ (Bank Foundation).