European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable chronic metabolic disorder. The association
between sensorineural hearing loss and diabetes has become an important subject of research.
Pathophysiology of hearing loss in diabetes is not still well explained. Usually gradual,
bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss at high frequency is seen in diabetes mellitus. Our study
aims to know the prevalence of SNHL in DM and its relation to HbA1c. A total of 300
subjects including 150 healthy individuals age and sex matched as control and 150 patients of
type 2 diabetes between 10-50 years age group including 78 males and 72 females were
included in the study. Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c of all the subjects were taken for the
study and after that pure tone audiometry was performed (PTA). By observing the data
degree, type and correlation with HbA1c of hearing loss was concluded. 28% diabetic
patients suffered with SNHL while 72% were found with normal hearing threshold. Among
42 patients 23 mild, 9 moderate, 9 moderately severe and 1 severe degree hearing loss cases
were found in diabetic group. Hearing loss was found on higher frequencies. Association
between hearing loss and HbA1c was observed and it was highest in the 10-13.9% range but
this correlation was not found significant (p value >0.05) in our study.