Diabetes and hearing loss

Diabetes and hearing loss

It may seem surprising, but studies have shown a link between diabetes and hearing loss. Scientist’s analyzed data from a study found that 21% of surveyed patients with diabetes had hearing loss, compared with 9% in non-diabetics. By analyzing the data further, they found that people with hearing loss are also more likely to report that they have diabetes. This was true regardless of age, except for those from 60 to 69 years. Based on these data, the researchers found that there was a 28% incidence of at least a minor hearing loss in people with diabetes. The researchers also found that the association was stronger between diabetes and high-frequency hearing loss than between diabetes and low or medium frequency hearing loss.

Physical changes caused by diabetes

Diabetes can cause many changes in the hearing mechanism.

The ability to hear is dependent on the blood vessels and nerves located in the inner ear. Maintaining a high level of glucose in the blood over an extended period of time facilitates damage to nerves and blood vessels, which leads to the development of deafness.

People with diabetes often have less keratin. The reduced amount of the protein can result in hearing loss.

In addition, the eighth cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve) - one branch which carries audio signals from the cochlea to the brain - may also experience damage to the insulating sheath that protects nerve fibers (demyelination), resulting in sensorineural hearing loss. Also affected tissue in the ear canal, affecting hearing.

Cochlea may be experiencing thickening of their walls, or loss of hair cells. Diabetes can even lead to damage to the nerves associated with hearing; higher levels of sugar in the blood cause a chemical change that affects the ability of the nerves to carry audio signals. Capillaries inner ear may also be densified, causing similar results.

What to do with diabetes?

Due to the abundance of evidence linking hearing loss with diabetes, diabetics must test their hearing regularly, in addition to control of blood sugar. This is important because some experts say that the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with diabetes may be higher than is actually known.

In diabetes prevalent sensorineural hearing loss, which cannot be cured, but unpleasant symptoms can be eliminated through the use of hearing aids. Modern hearing aids are able to make a sound not only louder, but also clearer. They also have an automatic volume control function and eliminate background noise.

Do not be afraid to use hearing aids. Currently, these devices are so compact that will not be noticeable gaze of others. Patients suffering from hearing loss, likely to develop depression and fencing themselves from the real world. Control of the disease and the use of hearing aids allow patients to lead a full life .

Common symptoms of hearing loss are:

1. frequent requests to repeat the statement;
2. Complexity in the perception of the conversation, which involved more than two interlocutors;
3. the impression that others are very quiet;
4. problems of speech recognition in public places;
5. difficulty recognizing voices of women and children;