Your hard-of-hearing patients may benefit from some physical activity. The American Journal of Audiology published research earlier this year reporting that cardiovascular health positively impacts hearing over time, according to a press release from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Why it works: Researchers found that cardiovascular fitness influences hearing due to increased blood circulation, especially to the organs and muscles in the inner ear, in particular, the stria vascularis in the cochlea. And metabolism and blood flow are directly related to the vascular pattern of the cochlea, the release said.