A clinical study of audiological profile in diabetes mellitus patients

The aim of this study is to compare the hearing thresholds of the diabetic patients with the age- and sex-matched normal control group regarding age, glucose level, duration and complications of diabetes with the degree of hearing impairment. Pure tone audiometry was performed in 58 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and compared with 58 age- and sex-matched controls. The patients were categorized into groups according to age, duration of diabetes, complications and control of diabetes. These observations were compared with those from the control subjects. 15-50 years age group with diabetes showed a significant high frequency hearing loss, as compared to the controls. Complicated and poorly controlled diabetics have significant degree of hearing loss in high frequencies as compared to those who were well controlled and uncomplicated. There was also a correlation between the level of hearing loss and duration of diabetes.