Effects of Exercise Training on Hearing Ability

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether improvements in both cardiovascular fitness and hearing sensitivity occurred following 2 months of aerobic exercise training. Seventeen moderately-low fit (VO2 peak <32 ml/kg/min) young adults were evaluated for cardiovascular fitness and pure-tone and temporary threshold shifts (TTS) at 2, 3, and 4 kHz before and following 10 min of noise. Subjects exercised for 8 weeks by cycling on a bicycle ergometer at 70% of their peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak). Average VO2 peak increased 34% (p < 0.05) above pre-exercise training levels. Both pure-tone hearing (2 and 3 kHz) and TTS improved following 2 months of exercise training at the evaluated frequencies (2, 3, and 4 kHz) (p < 0.05). Cardiovascular health as indicated by VO2 peak was associated with hearing sensitivity. Although the mechanisms have not been identified, these results support the existence of a cardiovascular health-hearing synergism.

Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow: An Assessment of Portable Entertainment Player Use and Hearing Acuity in a Community Sample

“…Furthermore, there is limited evidence that regular moderate exercise protects hearing so the hearing acuity of these subjects may be better than others that do not exercise. 16 More young adults in this study listened at somewhat loud or very loud volume compared with a recent a 2005 survey completed by the American School Health Association (55% versus 41%) and for longer times during the day (30% for 4 or more hours a day versus 11%), but this estimation of the length of noise exposure is confounded by the fact that we did not inquire as to other sources of noise exposure. Thus, the total context of exposure to noise is not known.…”

“…Advice on noise could be incorporated into lifestyle guidance offered by primary care providers on other aspects of lifestyle related to health. In fact, hearing problems are known to be associated with behaviors broadly detrimental to health (eg, smoking, 21 lack of exercise, 16 and poor dental health 22 ), diabetes, 23 and cardiovascular disease. 24 In particular, young patients would benefit from knowing recommended volume levels for PMPs, such as the recently published sound intensities for specific headphones and various devices by Portnuff and Fligor.…”

Evaluation of Auditory Fatigue in Combined Noise, Heat and Workload Exposure

“…A previous report stated that susceptibility to TTS is related to a person's cardiovascular fitness. The hearing ability was improved after 8 weeks exercise training 41) . The hearing loss caused by exposure to noise and heat simultaneously was higher than that exposure to noise only [29][30][31][32]35) .…”

Sex differences in childhood hearing impairment and adult obesity

“…This will influence physical activity, but might also represent inadequate stimulation relevant to neurological development and function. The beneficial effect of exercise on hearing ability (Cristell et al, 1998) may also be relevant in this context. While exposures other than stress will be important influences on weight gain in children, associations with another measure lend support to a causal role for stress.…”

“…Unlike physical control and coordination, we hypothesise that hearing impairment is less likely to be a direct influence on physical exercise and unlikely to cause later obesity. However, there is some evidence of causation in the opposite direction: physical exercise may improve hearing ability (Cristell et al, 1998) suggesting that exercise may be a common pathway relevant both to obesity risk and hearing ability.…”