Diabetes and Hearing Loss

Diabetes and hearing loss are two leading health concerns today. Not surprisingly, many adults, especially older are afflicted with both. Recent studies show diabetics are twice as likely as non-diabetics to experience hearing loss while those with pre-diabetic symptoms show a 30% higher rate of hearing loss than those with normal blood glucose levels.

Most hearing loss comes on gradually, and continues to worsen over time. If you’re regularly experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have a degree of hearing loss.

• Constantly asking people to repeat themselves
• Many sounds seem jumbled or muffled
• Difficulty conversing in groups
• Difficulty understanding higher-pitched voices like those of women and children
• Problems following conversation in loud places such as restaurants or bars
• Needing the volume so loud that others are bothered by it

You can maintain a higher quality of life with diabetes if you minimize the associated negative side effects of the disease. That includes taking care of your hearing. Studies prove that treating hearing loss can positively impact a person in a number of ways including:

• Easier communication
• Improved emotional well-being
• Greater social engagement
• Improved perception of mental functioning
• Increased earning capacity
• Closer family relationships
• Decreased level of frustration
• Better physical health
• Greater sense of control of one’s life
• Decreased anxiety

If you have diabetes, have your hearing screened and tested annually. At Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we help patients live more fulfilling lives by managing their hearing loss. Call today to schedule your non-invasive, risk-free hearing screening.

 

Read more at the American Diabetes Association.