Have a Heart, Get a Hearing Test: The Link between Hearing Loss and Heart Disease

You may know that the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone, but did you know the hearing bone’s connected to the heart?  

Research by Dr. Friedland shows a link between hearing health and heart health. For years, a possible link between between the two intrigued Dr. Friedland, and now he has the statistics to prove his hunch was correct.

An Early Warning of Heart Disease

Dr. Friedland analyzed data from 1,169 patients. He found those with low-frequency hearing loss were more likely to have heart disease, despite seeming outwardly healthy and not exhibiting any signs of heart disease. Indeed, this link was so strong that Dr. Freidland now suggests that patients shown to have low-frequency hearing loss on a hearing test should be referred for a cardiovascular assessment.

What is the Link?

According to Dr. Friedland, the link is the blood flow.  The hearing system depends on tiny blood vessels to function. If those blood vessels are not functioning correctly or are blocked, as happens with cardiovascular disease, the ear cannot function normally. As Friedland said, “The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier.”

Low-Frequency Hearing Loss

While low-frequency hearing loss may point to this disorder, other factors, such as a genetic predisposition, can cause this pattern of low-frequency loss as well.  Heart disease may not always be to blame.

Low-frequency loss refers to sounds below 2,000 Hz. Human speech straddles this zone and usually falls between 300-3400Hz. The implication is that you might be able to hear conversation in a one-on-one situation, because the mid and high frequencies compensate. But in a crowded or group situation, you might struggle to hear clearly.

However, self-diagnosing low-frequency loss is tricky, so your best bet is to have a professional hearing test. The audiologist will map out your responses to all the frequencies on a graph called an audiogram and explain the results.

Be Proactive

All this is of more than academic interest. The changes in blood supply are associated with increased risk of stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), coronary artery disease, and heart attack. The simple act of booking a hearing test could be a great way to love your heart and troubleshoot for problems before they happen.

Reference:

Friedland, D. R., Cederberg, C., & Tarima, S. (2009).  Audiometric pattern as a predictor of cardiovascular status: Development of a model for assessment of risk. The Laryngoscope, 119(3), 473-486. doi: 10.1002/lary.20130