Abstract
Objective: To compare otoacoustic emissions and auditory brain stem responses in hearing-impaired diabetic patients and matched controls in order to determine the lesion site for hearing loss in diabetic patients.Subjects and Methods: This matched case-control study compared 88 hearing-impaired type 2 diabetic patients with 63 age- and gender-matched controls. Cochlear function was evaluated on the basis of otoacoustic emissions. The presence and amplitude of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions, distortion product amplitudes and latencies were recorded. Retrocochlear function was evaluated on the basis of auditory brainstem response. Absolute latencies of waves I, III, and V and inter-peak latencies of I–III, III–V, and I–V of the auditory brainstem were compared.Results: In the case of diabetic patients, no spontaneous otoacoustic emissions were produced, suggesting cochlear damage. Distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes at 1, 2, 4, and 6 kHz, but not the latencies, were significantly different between diabetic and control patients. Wave V latency was also significantly different between the 2 groups while the values of all other auditory brainstem parameters were similar.Conclusion: Cochlear damage may be one of the causes of hearing loss in diabetic patients. Distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitude may be used for assessment of hearing loss in diabetic patients.
Published Version
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