Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifunctional metabolic disorder affecting almost all the systems of the body. There is a strong relationship between DM and hearing. Hearing loss in diabetes may be the result of neuronal degeneration and microangiopathy in the inner ear, deranged glucose metabolism, and hyperactivity of oxygen free radicals.

Aims and Objectives: The aims and objective were to study the hearing loss in type 2 diabetic patients of age group 30–60 years by pure tone audiometry (PTA) and compare it with that in the healthy people.

Materials and Methods: A total of 126 subjects were divided into two groups of 63 each (Group I – diabetics and Group II – healthy controls). Serum fasting blood glucose and random blood sugar were estimated by glucose oxidase–peroxidase method; HbA1C by ion exchange method. Hearing loss was assessed by PTA. All statistical analyses were done with SPSS software, version 18.

Results: About 77.80% of diabetics had a higher prevalence of hearing loss which was characteristically progressive, bilateral, and sensorineural with gradual onset predominantly affecting the higher frequencies.

Conclusion: Diabetic patients whose glycemic levels were not under control were more prone for sensorineural hearing loss. Early screening of diabetics by audiometry will help postpone hearing loss by good glycemic control so as to improve the quality of life.

Key words: Diabetes Mellitus; Hearing Loss; Neuronal Degeneration; Audiometry; Higher Frequency