Diabetes and hearing loss are linked in many cases. But how common is it? The American Diabetes Association acknowledges that out of the 26 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes, an estimated 34.5 million have some type of hearing loss. There are certain signs that a person is experiencing loss of hearing. If a diabetic person exhibits the following symptoms, diabetes hearing loss may be happening to them.
If a person often asks people to repeat themselves during conversations, diabetes and hearing loss may be the problem. If a person has difficulty experiencing conversations or believes other people are mumbling when they are not. Another sign of hearing loss and diabetes is when a person has trouble haring in places that have a noisy atmosphere. Trouble hearing high pitch sounds (such as the voices of women and children) may occur. Turning up the volume on electronic devices such as the TV or radio to levels that are uncomfortably loud for people nearby may also be a sign of diabetes and hearing loss.
The people who experience hearing loss the most are people 65 and older, according to the American Diabetes Association. But younger people are not exempt of the risk of hearing loss. An alarming 29 percent of people in the age range of 45 to 64 have some degree of hearing loss. Not much less, people aged 18 to 44 experience 23 percent of the nations hearing problems.
Can Diabetes Cause Hearing Loss?
Many people wonder, “can diabetes cause hearing loss?” And the answer is yes; diabetes hearing loss does occur. According to a 2008 study that was conducted by the Annals of Internal Medicine, diabetics are likely to have hearing problems because of the disease’s capability to damage nerves and blood vessels in the inner ear. The study analyzed data taken from hearing tests from more than 5,000 people and found that diabetes hearing loss is more likely than striking people who do not have the illness. Of the diabetic people who participated in the study, 68 percent of them were discovered to have diabetes hearing loss.
If a person is wrestling with diabetes and hearing loss, there are some treatments available. A diabetic who is experiencing the symptoms of hearing loss should seek the advice of a medical professional. The American Diabetes Association cites earwax buildups for some of these cases. When it comes to hearing loss and diabetes, the effects are normally not reversible. However, sensorineural hearing loss (the type most commonly associated with diabetes) can be helped with the implementation of hearing aids. Many people affected by diabetes and hearing loss experience some degree of embarrassment about being seen in hearing aids, but the devices are getting smaller as time goes on.
Because diabetes and hearing loss are so commonly seen together, patients who have diabetes mellitus should see a doctor on a regular basis to be screened for hearing problems.
