Hearing loss in patients with diabetes mellitus.
The relationship between diabetes mellitus and hearing loss is described as 'controversial' in the literature, given that in the clinical realm many patients present dysacusis while others do not.


OBJECTIVE
this study aims to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus and add to the knowledge being developed in this area.


METHODS
cross-sectional clinical trial.


METHODS
in our study we analyzed the medical charts of 50 adult patients of both genders, aged above 45 years, and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, seen in our institution in 2006 and 2007, and compared them to the charts of 50 metabolic disease-free individuals.


RESULTS
this study found statistically significant worse audiometric thresholds among patients with diabetes mellitus when compared to patients in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
the results identified in this study point to a correlation between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus. This possibility should therefore be further investigated by health care workers providing care to patients with diabetes mellitus, in the form of closer follow-up on the auditory health of this patient group.
Speech and Hearing Therapy Department - UNESP - Marília Campus, SP, Brazil.
Thiago Hernandes
TH
Diniz
Heraldo Lorena
HL
Guida
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index