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Diabetes and Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Yet hearing screenings typically are not part of the regular regimen of care that people with diabetes are routinely recommended to receive.
The NIH-funded study found a strong and consistent link between hearing impairment and diabetes. The link between diabetes and hearing loss was evident across all frequencies, with a stronger association in the high frequency range.
Adults with pre-diabetes, whose blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, had a 30% higher rate of hearing loss compared to those with normal blood sugar tested after an overnight fast. Diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear, the study researchers suggest. Autopsy studies of diabetes patients have shown evidence of such damage.
Hearing loss is one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today, and affects more than 34.25 million Americans. Hearing loss can strike at any time and at any age. And when left unaddressed, hearing loss can affect virtually every aspect of an individual's life. Numerous studies, in fact, have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including irritability, negativism, fatigue, stress and depression. In addition, there is a reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety, impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks causing reduced job performance and earning power.
Despite the far-reaching impact of hearing loss on an individual's life, many people who are aware that their hearing has deteriorated are reluctant to seek help. Unfortunately, too many wait too long before getting treatment, becoming more and more disconnected as time goes by.
The signs of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or they can be significant and come on suddenly. Either way, there are some common indicators A person may require frequent repetition; have difficulty following conversations involving more than one person; think people sound muffled or mumble; have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like restaurants or malls; feel stressed from straining to hear what others are saying; or feel annoyed at others because they can't hear or understand them.
Source Better Hearing Institute – www.betterhearing.org
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