Diabetes and Gender Linked to Hearing Loss

It’s fairly well-known that hearing loss can be caused by physical trauma or exposure to loud noises, but a 2012 study by Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit has shown that people living with diabetes, especially women, may be more at risk for hearing loss because of their condition.

The research showed that women between the ages of 60 and 75 with well-controlled diabetes had better hearing than women in the same age range with less control over their condition. On average, the former group had hearing levels similar to non-diabetic women of the same age.

In the same study, however, it was found that diabetic women under 60 had significantly worse hearing regardless of whether their condition was controlled or not.

The findings didn’t offer the same connection among men, though, who often had worse hearing than women regardless of diabetes or age.

The study not only highlighted the heightened risk of hearing loss for people living with diabetes, but also the importance of properly managing such conditions.

Read more about the study here.

If you are living with diabetes, you might benefit from a hearing screening. Schedule an appointment today to see if your condition has put you at risk.