People with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss than those who do not have diabetes, according to a National Institutes of Health landmark study. The study's researchers recommended that all men and women with diabetes have their hearing tested.
"Based on the findings of the NIH study, five million Americans living with diabetes also have hearing loss that, in many cases, remains undetected and untreated," said Dr. Cindy Beyer, audiologist and senior vice president of HearUSA, one of America's largest hearing care and hearing aids companies.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In its editorial, the publication said, "In many cases of mild to moderate hearing loss, patients are not aware of what they cannot hear; thus, screening for hearing loss in individuals at risk could lead to interventions that would affect their ability to communicate, their productivity and their safety."
Untreated hearing loss is serious: Dr. Beyer said studies have linked untreated hearing loss to fatigue, stress and depression, avoidance of social situations, reduced job performance and earning power, and diminished health.
"Hearing loss affects virtually every aspect of a person's life, making it all the harder for people with diabetes to cope with their disease," said Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute. "A hearing check is invaluable in determining whether or not someone with diabetes does have a hearing loss and will help to ensure that they get the treatment they need."
