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

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.