American Speech-Language-Hearing Association states that there is linkage between diabetes and a higher risk of hearing loss.
The correlation between hearing impairment and diabetes is a fairly new health concern for people in America. Nearly 30 million people in the United States have diabetes. An estimated 35 million of those individuals have some type of hearing impairment. Those are two large groups of people and it appears that there is an overlap between the two issues.
A recent article by The American Diabetes Association (2010) found that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes than it is in those who don’t have the disease. Those who have pre diabetes have been found to have a 30 percent higher rate of hearing loss than those with normal blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels associated with type 2 diabetes cause damage to the blood vessels in the inner ear, which affects hearing abilities.
While more studies are necessary in order to determine why people with diabetes have a higher rate of hearing impairment, the results aim to encourage hearing testing for those who have diabetes.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Hearing Loss?
If you or a loved one has diabetes, we encourage you to contact us at Landmark Hearing right away to set up an appointment with our audiologists for a Screening or Full Hearing Evaluation. It is never too late to care about your hearing health. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your hearing related questions.
Call today at (408) 773-9933 or make an appointment online at Landmarkhearing.com/appointments/
Landmark Hearing Services 877 W. Fremont Ave, Suite I-4, Sunnyvale, CA 94087