Hearing loss is rarely, if ever, sudden and inexplicable. It’s usually tied to some cause or stimulus: for example, prolonged exposure to loud noises, trauma to the ear or simply the effects of aging.
Many times, hearing loss is symptomatic of another illness–diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic and potentially fatal illness characterized by excessive blood sugar. Nearly a quarter of the 23.6 million Americans with diabetes are unaware of their condition. This is because many of the symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst, fatigue, and weight loss are often ignored or attributed to other factors.
Those symptoms can include hearing loss, suggests a study carried out by the National Institute of Health. Hearing tests on more than 5,000 patients concluded that diabetics were twice as likely to exhibit signs of hearing loss as their nondiabetic peers, and over 67 percent of the diabetics tested reported hearing loss in the higher frequencies.
Studies have suggested that the disease may effect nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. While they are not conclusive, the strong correlative link indicates that those who suffer from diabetes should get their hearing checked regularly.
Tags: american stats, Causes of Hearing Loss, diabetes, hearing loss, national institute of health, NIH
Awesome, I did not know about this topic until now. Thx!