Auditory Function in Diabetics

Abstract

Assessments of the hearing in diabetics by means of simple clinical tests and at times also by pure tone audiometry have yielded the most conflicting results. In published surveys the frequency of sensorineural hearing impairment has varied between 0 and 80%. It was therefore felt desirable to investigate this clinical problem applying modern audiological tests, which so far has not been done. Ninety-nine relatively young known diabetics have been examined. Pure tone audiograms were normal considered as group means. A small but definite degree of hearing impairment was noted when the patients were tested by speech and distorted speech audiometry as well as by Békésy and directional audiometry. In view of the psychoacoustic nature of the latter tests, all results were critically evaluated. No correlations were noted between the recorded hearing loss and the duration or severity of diabetes. Greater hearing losses were, however, directly related to higher age. The sexes were similarly affected. The significance of the results is discussed.