A recent study revealed that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in those who do not suffer from the disease. Among the nearly 90 million U.S. adults who are considered prediabetic, the rate of hearing loss is approximately 30 higher than in those with normal blood glucose levels. The reason for this seeming connection between diabetes and hearing loss is unknown. Some speculate that diabetes may affect the small blood vessels in the inner ear, just as it affects the blood vessels in the eyes.
If your elderly loved one suffers from diabetes, you might want to have him or her evaluated for hearing loss as well. Some telling signs of hearing loss include:
- Frequent requests to others to repeat themselves
- Turning up the TV or radio to volumes that may seem excessive
- Problems hearing in busy or noisy places, like restaurants or shopping centers
- Trouble following conversations that involve several people
If your sweet, elderly Aunt has been accusing you of mumbling, asking you to repeat yourself after every sentence, and blasting her TV or radio, then it might be time to visit a qualified audiologist or ear, nose, and throat doctor to evaluate any potential hearing loss. Many older adults, with or without diabetes, find great improvement by wearing a hearing aid. Fortunately, not every case of diabetes in the elderly is accompanied by hearing loss. Even so, living with diabetes represents a unique set of challenges, especially for the elderly patient.
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Statement: Hearing loss is twice as likely to occur in those with diabetes.
