THE EFFECT OF HORMONES AND STRESS ON AUDITORY FUNCTION: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47820/recima21.v6i2.6205Keywords:
Hormones; Stress hormones; Hearing Loss; Stress and Hearing.Abstract
The auditory system, responsible for sound perception and balance, can be affected by alterations that impair hearing and balance. Among these factors, stress, by activating physiological mechanisms, can directly impact auditory function, generating symptoms such as tinnitus and alterations in sound perception. Aim: To analyze the relationship between hormones, stress and the auditory system through an integrative literature review. Methods: Articles were selected from different types of study, such as experimental, observational and human studies. Ten articles were selected. Results: The research revealed that stress can aggravate existing hearing conditions or alter hearing function. Hormones such as cortisol, growth hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and vasopressin were the most associated with stress-induced hearing disorders. Cortisol was the most frequent hormone, related to idiopathic sudden hearing loss and Ménière's disease. Growth hormone and dehydrospiandrosterone sulphate were associated with acute stress, while vasopressin and ACTH with chronic stress. In addition, emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety can potentiate hearing problems. Conclusion: Although stress is not the primary cause of hearing alterations, it aggravates pre-existing pathological conditions such as sudden hearing loss and vestibular diseases. The research points out that, although the effects of stress on hearing are widely recognized, this relationship is still little explored in speech therapy, requiring more research and attention to understand its clinical implications.
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