A recent study has proven that diabetes is often associated with hearing loss in women. The study, done by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, examined the medical records of 990 men and women who had hearing tests between 2000 and 2008. Patients with diabetes were divided into two groups: well-controlled and poorly controlled. The poorly controlled diabetics had 28% worse hearing than those without diabetes.
The study also discovered that the younger the diabetic was, the more likely she was to suffer from hearing loss.
Because men are already more likely to experience hearing loss due to louder lifestyles and activities, the study was not able to prove any relationship between diabetes and hearing loss in men.
The implications in this study are significant. There have been previous links proven between diabetes and loss of sight, so many physicians recommend yearly vision exams when a patient is diagnosed with diabetes. This study implies that they should also be referred for yearly audiologic examinations as well.
This information was presented at a medical meeting and should not be conclusive until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. You can find out more about hearing loss at
www.utahhearingaids.com or call our office for a free hearing consultation at 801-770-0801.
