DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i11.023

Pages: 3602-3606

Hearing loss is an increasing problem globally. It may be worsened by some medical conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, hyperlipidemia etc. the present study is to evaluate the hearing loss in 50 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus in comparison with 50 nondiabetic subjects by audiological assessment using otoacoustic emissions (OAE). All the subjects belong to either gender and are within the age group of 30-50 years. All the subjects are tested for two types of evoked OAE [Transient Evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and Distortional Product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE)]. Random blood sugar analysis and HbA1c tests were done to assess the glycemic status and control.Overall the study sample is male predominant. In diabetics, the mean RBS level was 193.85 ± 50.83 mg/dl, the glycemic control status, i.e., HbA1c level was 7.39 ± 0.86. In the diabetic patients around 30(60%) patients had audiological complaints, of these decreased hearing is in 15 (30%), tinnitus in 10(20%) and both in another 5 (10%) members and the remaining 20(40%) members did not have audiological problems. In diabetics the results showed alterations in the TEOAE in 36(72%) members and DPOAE in 39 (78%) members. Both the DPOAE and TEOAE showed that the mean SNR (signal noise ratio) values were lower in all frequencies in diabetics when compared to nondiabetics; however the values were significantly reduced in higher frequencies. Hearing loss is mostly effected by diabetes among the people belonging to age group of 46 to 50 years. This study concludes that the diabetics are at a greater risk of developing auditory dysfunction. It is recommended that all newly diagnosed diabetic cases should undergo a complete audiological evaluation and regular follow up is warranted for early detection of damage to auditory functions.