Until recently, hearing loss was not considered a complication of diabetes. However, now it is understood that diabetes loss of hearing is a significant issue in diabetic treatment. Hearing loss has been found to be twice as prevalent in people with diabetes as their healthy counterparts. This is according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease and reported by U.S.News.com

As stated above, definite links have been found in the connection between diabetes and hearing loss. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes loss of hearing is believed to be caused by high blood glucose levels damaging the nerves and blood vessels in the inner ear. For this reason, the ADA’s website, Diabetes.org, lists the following signs of hearing loss:

  • Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
  • Having trouble following conversations with two or more people
  • Thinking that others are mumbling
  • Problems hearing in noisy places such as busy restaurants
  • Trouble hearing the voices of women and small children
  • Turning up the TV or radio volume too loud for other who are nearby

 

Showing Signs of Diabetes Loss of Hearing

 

If you are showing signs of diabetes loss of hearing, you should talk to your primary care physician who will likely refer you to a specialist. When tested, if you are found to have hearing loss, you will likely be given a number of treatment options. Unfortunately, diabetes loss of hearing, which is known as sensorineural hearing loss, cannot be cured, and will likely be treated with hearing aids.

At first you may be resistant to the idea of wearing a hearing aid. However, it is important to understand that diabetes loss of hearing can really affect your life. It leads to frustration when you are unable to respond correctly in conversation and when you have to keep telling others to repeat themselves. Therefore, relationships between spouses, children, friends, and family members are highly impacted. This produces feelings of loss and guilt. In many cases the persons involved begin to avoid interactions with each other. So, this causes a person to have feelings of loneliness, become isolate, and begin to feel as though nobody wants them around, according to ClarityHearing.com.

Hearing aids are getting smaller and smaller, and in most cases they are hardly noticeable. In fact, people are actually far more likely to notice the hearing problems than the hearing aid. Therefore, choosing to use a hearing aid is not only far better for your pride, but your quality of life as well.