title: Diabetes-related changes in auditory brainstem responses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine effects on auditory brainstem response (ABR) of diabetes mellitus (DM) severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study investigating DM severity and ABR in military Veteran subjects with (166) and without (138) DM and with no more than moderate hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were classified by three age tertiles (<50, 50-56, and 57+). DM severity was classified as insulin-dependent (IDDM), non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM), or no DM. Other DM measures included serum glucose, HbA1c, and several DM-related complications. ABR measures included wave I, III, and V latencies; I-III, III-V, and I-V latency intervals; and wave V amplitude; for each ear at three repetition rates (11, 51, and 71 clicks/second), and both polarities. Outcomes were stratified by age tertile and adjusted for pure tone threshold at 3 kHz. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance modeled the ABR response at each repetition rate for DM severity (main effect) and hearing at 3 kHz (covariate). Modeled contrasts between ABR variables in subjects with and without DM were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences existed between no DM and IDDM groups in the younger tertile only. Adjusting for threshold at 3 kHz had minimal effect. Self-reported noise exposure was not related to ABR differences, but HbA1c and poor circulation were.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IDDM is associated with an increased wave V latency, wave I-V interval, and reduced wave V amplitude among Veterans under 50 years. Results were related to several DM complications.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. dawn.martin@va.gov
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konrad-Martin
authors.forename: Donald F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griest
authors.forename: Garnett P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fausti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged