How Diabetes Is Linked To Hearing Loss
Uncontrolled Diabetes Can Impact Hearing
Can Diabetes Cause Hearing Loss? Explaining the Connection
What Research Suggests About Diabetes and Hearing Loss
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss. Even those with prediabetes face a 30% higher risk than people with normal blood sugar.1
An exact reason why is still somewhat of a mystery to researchers.
Research shows that high blood sugar can possibly damage blood vessels in the ears. To function at their best, ears depend on strong, consistent blood flow through those vessels.1 While diabetes is widespread in the U.S., it is manageable. Controlling blood sugar can help protect your hearing as well as your overall health, too.
Why Hearing Health Is Connected to Overall Health
Mental and emotional health
Struggling to hear makes the brain work much harder. This can lead to mental fatigue, stress, and feeling left out of conversations.
Over time, untreated hearing loss can cause social isolation and depression, and even cognitive decline.2
Physical safety and balance
Your inner ear also helps you keep your balance. When your inner ear is damaged, it is harder to stay steady on your feet, raising the risk of slips and falls.3
Diabetes as One Possible Risk Factor
While diabetes can impact hearing, it’s not the only cause. It’s important to see a hearing specialist so they can identify the culprit, which can be from diabetes or:
- Aging
- Loud noise exposure
- Genetics
- Certain medications
- Certain Infections, viruses, and other health conditions
If you have diabetes, don’t assume that’s the cause. A hearing professional will provide the right diagnosis - and the right hearing solution - if needed.
Diabetes Affects Blood Flow
Why Diabetes Increases Your Risk of Hearing Loss
- 1.
Reduced blood flow to the inner ear
Inside your inner ear are tiny, delicate hair cells that send sound signals to your brain. These tiny cells rely on good blood flow and circulation to stay healthy.
High blood sugar can damage these small blood vessels over time. Once these tiny hair cells are damaged, they cannot grow back. This means managing your blood sugar directly protects your ears.
- 2.
Nerve damage and hearing signals
In addition to impacting blood vessels, diabetes can also lead to nerve damage. Healthy nerve signals are responsible for delivering sound from the ear to the brain to be processed.
When that nerve pathway is impacted, sound will not reach the brain properly.
- 3.
Inflammation and long-term health changes
Chronic inflammation, often a complication of diabetes, can impact the entire body. This includes the tiny ear hair cells that turn sound vibrations into electrical signals for the brain.
Because ongoing high blood sugar in diabetes can lead to all of the above chronic health issues, it’s important to take charge of your health as soon as you notice potential issues.
How to Know if You Have Hearing Loss
Early Signs of Hearing Loss to Watch For
- Muffled sound and conversations: It may sound like people are mumbling or talking through a wall. You may ask “What?” or “Huh?” more often.
- Trouble with background noise: It may be hard to follow and respond appropriately to conversations in noisy environments like restaurants
- Struggling with high pitches: You may struggle to hear the birds, women, and children most of all due their higher-pitch voices.
- Turning up the volume: You may find yourself turning up the TV, phone, or radio when it’s uncomfortable for other.
- Tinnitus: You may hear ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in one or both ears (not always a symptom of hearing loss).
If you notice any of these hearing loss symptoms, see a hearing care professional. An early diagnosis can mean easier, more successful treatment.
Why Gradual Hearing Changes Are Easy to Miss
Hearing loss usually happens gradually over time, making it really easy to miss - or dismiss.
If you have diabetes, pay attention to subtle changes. Notice if you’re turning up the TV or asking people to repeat themselves in the environments in which you spend time.
Waiting until hearing loss becomes more noticeable can make it harder to treat. It can also impact your self-esteem, relationships, and mental and physical health.
Reach out to a hearing specialist if you notice hearing changes or think you have hearing loss caused by diabetes. You’ll be protecting your hearing and your overall health, too.
The Effects of High Blood Sugar on Your Ears
How Blood Sugar and Nerve Damage Affect Your Ears
The cochlea and its delicate hair cells rely on a steady supply of blood and oxygen to work properly. Over time, high blood sugar may damage the small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those that support the inner ear and hearing.
Because people with diabetes may have a higher risk of hearing loss, regular hearing checks are an important part of overall health management. Routine testing can help identify small changes early, before they begin to affect conversations or everyday activities. Staying proactive about your hearing can help you remain connected, socially active, and independent.
Tips for Protecting Your Hearing With Diabetes
How to Protect Your Hearing if You Have Diabetes
- 1.
Manage blood sugar with your healthcare provider
Work closely with your doctor to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. Following your medical plan helps protect the delicate blood vessels and nerves in your ears. - 2.
Protect your ears from loud noise
Wear earplugs around loud tools, machinery, or loud concerts and events. Keep headphone volume at a comfortable level and give your ears quiet breaks after noisy activities. - 3.
Schedule regular hearing checks
Because diabetes increases your hearing loss risk, regular hearing tests yearly or more as needed can monitor and catch changes before they affect your daily life. Including hearing care as part of your annual wellness checkup and care can help catch minor changes early. This keeps you in control of your health. - 4.
Take action early if hearing changes appear
Don't wait if you notice muffled sounds or struggle to hear conversations.Getting support early can help preserve your ability to communicate clearly, stay connected, and live with confidence.
Next Step: Check Your Hearing With HearUSA
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can diabetes cause hearing loss?
Yes, diabetes can cause hearing loss. According to the American Diabetes Association, those with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss.
It’s believed high blood sugar can possibly damage blood vessels in the ears, which depend on oxygen and nutrients from strong, consistent blood flow.
Is hearing loss a common complication of diabetes?
Can diabetes-related hearing loss be reversed?
Should people with diabetes get regular hearing tests?
Can managing blood sugar help protect hearing?
Sources:
1 American Diabetes Association: Diabetes and Hearing Loss: https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/hearing-loss/diabetes-and-hearing-loss
2 Johns Hopkins Medicine: The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
3 CDC: Promoting Ear Health (May 15, 2024): https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/hcp/clinical-guidance/how-to-promote-ear-health-for-people-with-diabetes.html#:~:text=Diabetes%20can%20affect%20hearing%20by%20reducing%20cortical,people%20with%20diabetes%20compared%20to%20people%20without.
