Diabetic-Mellitus as an Etiological Factor in Hearing Loss

Abstract

Background: The association of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in diabetes mellitus patients is known since decades, yet there is no clear consensus among previous studies, with respect to the prevalence of SNHL in type 2 diabetes patients and the effect of duration and control of diabetes on hearing acuity. Hence the objectives of this study are to find the prevalence of SNHL in type 2 diabetes patients and to find the effect of duration and control of diabetes on hearing loss. Methods: The present study was conducted on 100 type 2 diabetes patients and age and gender matched 100 non- diabetic controls in the age group of < 50 yrs, selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After detailed history taking and clinical examination, all subjects underwent FBS, PPBS estimation and HbA1c evaluation was done for diabetic patients. All underwent pure tone audiometry, DPOAE and BERA and the findings were recorded and analyzed. Results: Diabetes patients had insidious onset, gradually progressive, bilaterally symmetrical SNHL. SNHL is prevalent in 73% of type 2 diabetes patients compared to 16% of controls. It is aggravated with the increasing age and duration of diabetes. Poor control of diabetes showed increased prevalence of SNHL compared to good control of diabetes. Conclusions: There is increased prevalence of SNHL in type 2 diabetes patients and it is more evident in patients with long duration of diabetes and more pronounced in patients with poor diabetic control.