Diabetes can cause blurry vision, hunger, thirst and fatigue; a lesser-known associated condition is hearing loss.
A 2008 study from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) found hearing loss to be about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those without the disease.
“Our study found a strong and consistent link between hearing impairment and diabetes using a number of different outcomes,” Catherine Cowie, senior author, Ph.D., said.
The reason for the connection between diabetes and hearing loss is not definitive, but some evidence is suggestive. The NIDCD study reports diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear.
At the time, this study was alarming to many otolaryngologists and audiologists because there was no recommendation for hearing loss screenings in a diabetes care regimen. Fortunately, things changed in 2021 when the American Diabetes Association added audiology to its table on referrals for initial diabetes care management in its “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes.”2
Afflicting nearly 38 million adults in the United States, diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and the most common cause of blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations in adults. Prediabetes, which causes no symptoms, affects about 98 million adults in the United States.
It’s important for those with diabetes to take an active role in their health care and seek treatment for any associated conditions they may be at risk for, including hearing loss.
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, give us a call today at (415) 362-2901 to schedule a hearing evaluation.