Heart rate response audiometry: bases, clinical techniques, and limitations

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular responsivity to sensory stimuli is well-documented.
• Limited research exists on applying cardiac response measures to audiological assessment.
• Emerging links between arousal systems and cardiovascular function suggest potential for HR measures in assessing communicative behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the pragmatic application of cardiac response measures in audiological assessment.
• To evaluate the current feasibility of using heart rate (HR) data for audiological evaluations.
• To identify the challenges and necessary research for clinical adoption of cardiotachometry in audiology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cardiovascular responses to sensory stimuli.
• Analysis of research-oriented instrumentation for measuring HR changes to auditory stimuli.
• Discussion of the limitations and potential of cardiotachometry in audiological assessment.

Main Results:

• Instrumentation for measuring HR changes to auditory stimuli is primarily research-based.
• Current HR measurement technology is not considered a realistic clinical tool for audiological evaluation.
• Significant basic research is required to operationally define problems and establish clinical utility.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians face considerable difficulties in utilizing cardiac response measures for audiological evaluation currently.
• Cardiotachometry holds potential for auditory system assessment but requires substantial further basic research.
• The clinical application of these procedures should be suspended until sufficient evidence supports their use.