(Ivanhoe Newswire) – New research shows diabetes may cause hearing loss.
Researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders (NIDCD) worked together to analyze preexisting data from hearing tests
administered from 1999 to 2004 by the National Center for Health Statistics.
The data revealed hearing loss is nearly twice as common in adults with diabetes
compared to adults who do not have diabetes. The link was evident across all
hearing frequencies, with a stronger association in the high frequency range.
“Hearing loss may be an under-recognized complication of diabetes. As diabetes
becomes more common, the disease may become a more significant contributor to
hearing loss,” Catherine Cowie, Ph.D., senior author of the study and NIDDK
researcher was quoted as saying.
It’s believed diabetes may damage the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear,
leading to potential hearing loss. Diabetes affects nearly 21 million Americans.
It’s also a major cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and
lower limb amputations.
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, published online June 17, 2008.
