Diabetes and Hearing Health: Understanding the Connection

If you’re living with diabetes, you probably keep track of your blood sugar and make time for regular eye exams. When was the last time you had your hearing checked? Hearing changes can be subtle. You might find yourself asking friends to repeat themselves over lunch at a busy Cape Cod restaurant, even though you can hear them just fine one-on-one. This November, during National Diabetes Month, consider adding a hearing check to your regular diabetes care.

How diabetes can affect hearing

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hearing loss is about twice as common among people with diabetes as among people of the same age without diabetes. People with prediabetes have a rate of hearing loss about 30 percent higher than people with normal blood sugar levels.

Over time, high blood sugar can damage tiny blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear. Low blood sugar over time can also interfere with the nerve signals that carry sound information from the inner ear to the brain. Keeping your blood sugar close to the target range you’ve set with your care team can help protect your hearing.

What changes should you listen for?

Hearing loss can develop gradually, and friends or family may pick up on changes before you do. Common signs include:

• Asking people to repeat themselves more often than you used to.

• Losing the thread of a conversation when several people are talking.

• Feeling as though people are mumbling, even in a quiet room.

• Struggling to hear a child or someone with a soft voice.

• Turning up the television past the volume others find comfortable.

When to schedule a hearing evaluation

The CDC recommends getting your hearing tested by an audiologist when you’re first diagnosed with diabetes and once a year after that. An initial test gives you a baseline to compare with future results. If you notice changes in your hearing or balance, or ringing in your ears, bring them up with your health care provider before your next annual check.

You can also protect your hearing by wearing earplugs or earmuffs around loud equipment, whether you’re using a leaf blower for fall cleanup or running power tools to get the boat ready for winter. Ask your doctor whether any medications you take can affect your hearing.

For more information or to schedule a hearing evaluation here on Cape Cod, contact Advanced Audiology Associates at hearingonthecape.com.