November marks American Diabetes Month! This campaign focuses on raising awareness of diabetes and advocating for prioritizing your health. An estimated 37 million people, or 11.3% of the population in the U.S., have diabetes. Additionally, according to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 1.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
Did you know that diabetes can increase the risk of developing hearing loss? Studies show that people with diabetes can be more than twice as likely to experience hearing loss. Hearing loss is a permanent medical condition that impacts 1 in 6 people. This reduces the capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound which can take a toll on everyday life in numerous ways – straining relationships, and social life, and increasing health risks. This month is a great reminder to test your hearing which is the first step toward identifying and treating your hearing needs!
Link Between Diabetes & Hearing Loss
Substantial research shows that a number of medical conditions can increase the risk of hearing loss. This includes diabetes which is correlated with impaired hearing. A significant study that examines this link was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This study involved over 5,000 people with and without diabetes. Researchers assessed their hearing health as well as gathered information about diabetes. Key findings include:
- 21% of people with diabetes experienced mild or greater hearing loss of low or mid-frequency sounds compared to 9% of participants without diabetes.
- 54% of people with diabetes had mild or greater hearing loss of high-frequency sounds compared to 32% of participants without diabetes.
- Adults with prediabetes had a 30% higher rate of hearing loss
These findings show that people with diabetes were more than twice as likely to have mild to greater hearing loss of mid-frequency sounds. This study supports extensive research findings that highlight diabetes as a risk factor for hearing loss.
Impact of Diabetes on Hearing Health
The exact ways in which diabetes contributes to hearing loss are unknown. But experts suggest that it could be due to damaged blood vessels and nerves. Diabetes results in excess glucose levels in the bloodstream. This can lead to damage to the network of small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body including the inner ear. Damaged blood vessels and nerves can affect the auditory system – the sensory system for hearing – in significant ways. This can prevent soundwaves from being fully absorbed and it can also prevent sensory cells in the inner ear from sending auditory signals to the brain. The brain then receives less auditory input, resulting in chronic hearing loss
Know the Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss typically occurs gradually so people can overlook symptoms for quite some time. Being able to recognize signs of hearing loss can help you intervene early, which helps protect your hearing health. Common signs include:
- Tinnitus: a buzzing or ringing noise in one or both ears.
- Sounds are muffled or distorted, others sound like they are mumbling.
- Asking others to repeat themselves and/or speak louder.
- Increasing the volume on the TV and other electronic devices.
- Lip reading to help identify individual words.
- Struggling to keep up with conversations, especially in places with background noise.
- Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other.
- Missing alarms or your phone ringing.
- Feeling excluded during social gatherings and activities.
These symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the degree of hearing loss present. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important to have your hearing evaluated as soon as possible.
Tips to Protect Hearing Health
There are useful ways you can protect your hearing health. This is especially important for people with diabetes and for those who are prediabetic. A few strategies you can practice are:
- Prioritize care for your diabetes: this includes keeping your blood sugar close to target levels, taking all necessary medications, and following any regimens outlined by your doctor.
- Test hearing: get your hearing tested at least yearly. This allows you to monitor your hearing health and identify any changes you may experience early.
- Medications: ask your doctor about the side effects of any medications you are taking. If any can be harmful to hearing health, find out about alternatives.
Contact us to schedule an appointment for a hearing test. American Diabetes Month is a great reminder to prioritize your hearing health and wellness.
