Hearing loss is a common condition in the United States, and it can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.
As an audiologist, I have worked with patients who have both hearing loss and diabetes (a chronic condition that affects millions of Americans), among other health concerns and issues.
Today we know that diabetes is expected to increase to affect as many as one in three Americans by 2060. While the relationship between hearing loss and diabetes is not widely known, research suggests a connection between the two.
In this blog post, we will explore how diabetes affects hearing and what you can do to monitor your hearing and prevent further damage.
What is the connection between diabetes and hearing loss?
Diabetes affects the body's insulin production and glucose metabolism. So, you might be wondering what blood sugar has to do with hearing loss. Type II diabetes can have a cascade of effects on the metabolism and body, such as neuropathy, vision changes, or an increased likelihood of stroke and cardiovascular events.
While the exact mechanism is not well understood, research shows that individuals with diabetes have twice the risk of developing hearing loss as their age-matched peers without diabetes.
One theory is that high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear, which can cause hearing loss. Another theory suggests that diabetes affects how the body responds to inflammation, which can also cause hearing loss.
How does diabetes affect the audiogram?
Here’s what two insightful studies had to say on the diabetes audiogram (hearing test chart) connection:
⭐ A recent study found that people with diabetes experience hearing loss at the highest frequencies on the audiogram, meaning that they can struggle to hear whispers and high-pitched sounds.
⭐ Another study found that 50% of individuals with diabetes had a flat hearing loss configuration, meaning that their audiograms looked like a straight line across the audiogram. This study also found that TEOAEs and DPOAEs, measurements of outer hair cell function, were commonly absent among this population.
However, other audiometric tests also show changes. For example, another type of hearing test called the auditory brainstem response (ABR) shows how the auditory nerve, central nervous system, and brainstem respond to sound. One study found that ABR wave latencies were prolonged among diabetic patients.
These results suggest that not only the audiograms of these patients may be affected, but also how sound is transmitted to the auditory nerve and nervous system is impacted.
Anecdotally, I've seen some patients with diabetes struggle more with speech understanding. While there is no direct research to back this up, speech clarity may be more affected in this group due to underlying mechanisms.
Patients with diabetes typically develop sensorineural hearing loss, which may be caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, metabolic changes to structures in the inner ear, or changes to the neural structures and how sound travels to the brain.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Common signs of hearing loss include:
- Constantly asking people to repeat themselves
- Feeling that others mumble or speak too quickly
- Struggling to hear in noisy environments
Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, may also indicate hearing loss. Just as diabetes can be a slow progression, hearing loss may happen gradually over the years. Staying on top of your hearing health is essential, especially if you have diabetes.
Diabetes and Dizziness
The inner ear has two parts: A hearing portion and a balance portion.
While patients can develop hearing loss without ever experiencing dizziness, some patients experience both. Diabetic patients may experience several types of dizziness: lightheadedness, imbalance, or true vertigo. Maintaining your sense of balance is essential for safety and maintaining physical fitness. If you're experiencing dizziness, consult your healthcare provider.
What can be done to prevent or slow down hearing loss due to diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to complications if not monitored and managed. The same goes for hearing loss related to diabetes.
To help prevent or slow down hearing loss, it is essential to:
- Monitor your blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugar levels can help protect your hearing.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking are all great steps to reduce the chances of developing diabetes-related hearing loss.
- See an audiologist for annual evaluations. The CDC now recommends that people with diabetes monitor their hearing yearly. Regular hearing tests with an audiologist can detect hearing changes early and help you develop a plan to protect your hearing.
- Avoid loud sound exposure. Wear hearing protection if you work in loud settings or engage in loud recreational activities.
If you have diabetes and are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, it is essential to talk to your doctor or audiologist. By monitoring both conditions closely, you can reduce the risk of further hearing damage and ensure you hear well for years.
👉 Read more about what to expect from your first hearing test here.
Treating Hearing Loss
There is no cure for hearing loss, but various treatments can help people manage it. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment, and they can improve hearing for many people with sensorineural hearing loss. While hearing aids cannot restore hearing fully, they can help people hear better in everyday situations and improve their quality of life.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes-related hearing loss, hearing aids can significantly improve your quality of life. Hearing aids allow you to listen and communicate more effectively, which can help manage stress levels and provide greater independence. When it comes to finding the right device for your needs, it is essential to work with a professional who can help you find the best solution for your lifestyle.
Diabetes affects the body in many ways, leading to complications like hearing loss.
While the exact relationship between diabetes and hearing loss is not entirely understood, it is clear that monitoring both conditions is essential for preventing further decline in hearing health.
Diabetes and hearing loss are both prevalent conditions in the United States, and there is a strong link between the two. People with diabetes are more likely to develop sensorineural hearing loss, which can affect the ability to hear high or low-pitched sounds. Regular hearing checkups, maintaining stable blood sugar levels, and avoiding loud noises can help prevent further hearing loss.
If you experience any signs of hearing loss, you should seek professional advice as soon as possible to get the best care possible. Remember, hearing care is just as critical as diabetes care, and caring for both can help you lead a healthier and happier life.
Kupoteza kusikia ni tatizo la kawaida katika nchi za Ulaya na inaweza kuwaathiri watu wa umri mbalimbali. Kama mtaalamu wa kusikia, nimefanya kazi na wagonjwa ambao wana upotezaji wa kusikia na ugonjwa wa kisukari (hali ya muda mrefu ambayo huathiri mamilioni ya Wamarekani), kati ya wasiwasi na maswala mengine ya afya. Kwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, ugonjwa wa kisukari unatarajiwa kuathiri kila Mmarekani mmoja kati ya watatu kufikia mwaka 2060. Ingawa uhusiano kati ya upotezaji wa kusikia na ugonjwa wa kisukari haujulikani sana, utafiti unaonyesha uhusiano kati ya mambo hayo mawili. Katika chapisho hili, tutajifunza jinsi ugonjwa wa kisukari unavyoathiri kusikia na jinsi unavyoweza kuzuia usikivu wako usipite. Kuna uhusiano gani kati ya ugonjwa wa kisukari na upotezaji wa kusikia? Ugonjwa wa kisukari huathiri utengenezaji wa insulini na kimetaboliki ya glukosi. Labda unajiuliza ni nini sukari ya damu inahusiana na upotezaji wa kusikia? Ugonjwa wa kisukari wa aina ya 2 unaweza kuwa na athari nyingi kwa kimetaboliki na mwili, kama vile neuropathy, mabadiliko ya maono, au uwezekano mkubwa wa kiharusi na matukio ya moyo. Ingawa utaratibu halisi haujatambuliwa vizuri, utafiti unaonyesha kwamba watu wenye kisukari wana hatari maradufu ya kupoteza kusikia kuliko wenzao wasio na kisukari. Nadharia moja ni kwamba viwango vya juu vya sukari ya damu vinaweza kuharibu mishipa ya damu na neva katika sikio la ndani, na hivyo kusababisha upotezaji wa kusikia. Nadharia nyingine inadokeza kwamba ugonjwa wa kisukari huathiri jinsi mwili unavyoitikia uvimbe, ambao pia waweza kusababisha upotezaji wa kusikia. Ugonjwa wa kisukari huathirije uchunguzi wa sauti? "Hii ni nini masomo mawili ya ufahamu yalikuwa na kusema juu ya uhusiano wa audiogram ya kisukari (chati ya mtihani wa kusikia): ""Utafiti wa hivi karibuni uligundua kwamba watu wenye kisukari wanapata upotezaji wa kusikia kwenye masafa ya juu zaidi kwenye audiogram, ikimaanisha kuwa wanaweza kupambana kusikia kunong'oneza na sauti za juu." Utafiti mwingine uligundua kuwa asilimia 50 ya watu wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari walikuwa na upotezaji wa kusikia wa gorofa, ikimaanisha kwamba audiograms zao zilionekana kama mstari wa moja kwa moja kwenye audiogram. Utafiti huo pia uligundua kuwa TEOA na DPOA, vipimo vya kazi ya seli za nywele za nje, kwa kawaida hazikuwapo kati ya idadi hii ya watu. Hata hivyo, vipimo vingine vya sauti huonyesha mabadiliko pia. Kwa mfano, aina nyingine ya mtihani wa kusikia unaoitwa auditory brainstem response (ABR) huonyesha jinsi neva ya kusikia, mfumo wa neva wa kati, na shina la ubongo vinavyoitikia sauti. Uchunguzi mmoja uligundua kwamba muda wa kusubiri wa mawimbi ya ABR uliongezeka miongoni mwa wagonjwa wa kisukari. Matokeo haya yanaonyesha kwamba sio tu audiograms ya wagonjwa hawa inaweza kuathiriwa, lakini pia jinsi sauti inavyopitishwa kwa neva ya kusikia na mfumo wa neva unaathiriwa. Kwa kushangaza, nimeona wagonjwa fulani wenye kisukari wakijitahidi zaidi kuelewa usemi. Ingawa hakuna utafiti wa moja kwa moja kuunga mkono hili, uwazi wa hotuba inaweza kuwa zaidi kuathiriwa katika kundi hili kutokana na utaratibu wa msingi. Kwa kawaida, watu wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari hupata upotezaji wa kusikia wa neva, ambayo inaweza kusababishwa na uharibifu wa seli za nywele katika sikio la ndani, mabadiliko ya kimetaboliki katika miundo ya sikio la ndani, au mabadiliko katika miundo ya neva na jinsi sauti inasafiri hadi ubongo. Dalili za kupoteza kusikia: Dalili za kawaida za kupoteza kusikia ni pamoja na: - Kuuliza watu mara kwa mara kurudia - Kuhisi kwamba wengine hummbles au kuzungumza haraka sana - Kupambana kusikia katika mazingira yenye kelele Tinnitus, au kengele katika masikio, pia inaweza kuonyesha kupoteza kusikia. Kama vile ugonjwa wa kisukari unavyoweza kuenea polepole, upotezaji wa kusikia waweza kutokea hatua kwa hatua kwa miaka mingi. Ni muhimu kujua jinsi unavyohisi, hasa ikiwa una ugonjwa wa kisukari. Ugonjwa wa kisukari na kizunguzungu Kinywa cha ndani kina sehemu mbili: sehemu ya kusikia na sehemu ya usawa. Ingawa wagonjwa wanaweza kupoteza uwezo wao wa kusikia bila kupata kizunguzungu, wagonjwa fulani hupata mambo yote mawili. Wagonjwa wa kisukari wanaweza kupatwa na aina kadhaa za kizunguzungu: kizunguzungu, kutokuwa na usawaziko, au kizunguzungu halisi. Kudumisha usawaziko ni muhimu kwa usalama na kudumisha afya ya mwili. Ikiwa unakabiliwa na kizunguzungu, wasiliana na mtoa huduma yako ya afya. Ni nini kinachoweza kufanywa ili kuzuia au kupunguza upungufu wa kusikia unaosababishwa na kisukari? Ugonjwa wa kisukari ni ugonjwa wa kudumu ambao unaweza kusababisha matatizo ikiwa haufuatwi na kusimamiwa. Ndivyo ilivyo na upungufu wa kusikia unaosababishwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari. Ili kusaidia kuzuia au kupunguza upotezaji wa kusikia, ni muhimu: - Kudhibiti viwango vya sukari yako ya damu. Kiwango cha sukari ya damu kinachoweza kudumu kinaweza kusaidia kulinda kusikia kwako. - Kuendelea kuwa na maisha yenye afya. Kula vizuri, kufanya mazoezi ya kawaida, na kuepuka kuvuta sigara ni hatua muhimu za kupunguza uwezekano wa kupatwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari. - mwone daktari wa kusikia kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa kila mwaka. CDC inashauri kwamba wagonjwa wa kisukari wafuatilie kusikia kwao kila mwaka. Uchunguzi wa kusikia wa kawaida na daktari wa kusikia unaweza kugundua mabadiliko ya kusikia mapema na kukusaidia kuendeleza mpango wa kulinda kusikia kwako. - Epuka kusikilizwa kwa sauti kubwa. Vaa kinga ya kusikia ikiwa unafanya kazi kwa sauti kubwa au unafanya shughuli za burudani zenye sauti kubwa. Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa kisukari na una dalili za kupoteza kusikia, ni muhimu kuzungumza na daktari wako au mtaalamu wa kusikia. Kwa kuangalia hali zote mbili kwa karibu, unaweza kupunguza hatari ya uharibifu zaidi wa kusikia na kuhakikisha unasikia vizuri kwa miaka. Soma zaidi kuhusu nini cha kutarajia kutoka kwa mtihani wako wa kwanza wa kusikia hapa. Matibabu ya upotezaji wa kusikia Hakuna tiba ya upotezaji wa kusikia, lakini matibabu mbalimbali yanaweza kusaidia watu kusimamia. Vifaa vya kusikia ni aina ya matibabu ya kawaida, na vinaweza kuboresha kusikia kwa watu wengi wenye upotezaji wa kusikia wa sensorineural. Ingawa vifaa vya kusikia haviwezi kurudisha kusikia kabisa, vinaweza kusaidia watu kusikia vizuri katika hali za kila siku na kuboresha ubora wa maisha yao. Ikiwa umegunduliwa kuwa na upotezaji wa kusikia unaohusiana na kisukari, vifaa vya kusikia vinaweza kuboresha ubora wa maisha yako. Vifaa vya kusikia vinakuruhusu kusikiliza na kuwasiliana kwa ufanisi zaidi, ambayo inaweza kusaidia kudhibiti viwango vya mkazo na kutoa uhuru mkubwa. Unapojaribu kupata kifaa kinachofaa kwa mahitaji yako, ni muhimu kufanya kazi na mtaalamu ambaye anaweza kukusaidia kupata suluhisho bora kwa mtindo wako wa maisha. Ugonjwa wa kisukari huathiri mwili kwa njia nyingi, na kusababisha matatizo kama vile kupoteza uwezo wa kusikia. Ingawa uhusiano halisi kati ya ugonjwa wa kisukari na upotezaji wa kusikia haueleweki kabisa, ni wazi kwamba ufuatiliaji wa hali zote mbili ni muhimu ili kuzuia kupungua zaidi kwa afya ya kusikia. Ugonjwa wa kisukari na upotezaji wa kusikia ni magonjwa ya kawaida nchini Marekani, na kuna uhusiano mkubwa kati ya hayo mawili. Watu wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuharibika kwa kusikia kwa sababu ya uwezo wao wa kusikia sauti za juu na za chini. Kufanya uchunguzi wa kusikia kwa ukawaida, kudumisha kiwango cha sukari katika damu, na kuepuka kelele nyingi kunaweza kusaidia kuzuia upotezaji zaidi wa kusikia. Ikiwa una dalili za kupoteza kusikia, unapaswa kutafuta ushauri wa kitaalamu haraka iwezekanavyo ili kupata huduma bora iwezekanavyo. Kumbuka, utunzaji wa kusikia ni muhimu kama utunzaji wa kisukari, na utunzaji wa zote mbili unaweza kukusaidia kuongoza maisha yenye afya na furaha.