Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared with those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
"Hearing loss may be an under-recognized complication of diabetes. As diabetes becomes more common, the disease may become a more significant contributor to hearing loss," says senior author Catherine Cowie, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), who suggests that people with diabetes should consider having their hearing tested. "Our study found a strong and consistent link between hearing impairment and diabetes using a number of different outcomes," she says. Diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear, the researchers suggest.
Hearing loss is a common problem caused by aging, disease, heredity and noise. About 17 percent of American adults — 36 million people — report some degree of hearing loss. There is a strong relationship between age and reported hearing loss: 8 percent of American adults 18 to 44 years old, 19 percent of adults 45 to 64 years old. and 30 percent of adults 65 to 74 years old report trouble with hearing.
Source: The National Institutes of Health
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, December 2012
Share with Friend
