Auditory Evaluation in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

• Published in: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology rhinology & laryngology, 2008-05, Vol.117 (5), p.366-370
• Main Authors: Pessin, Adriana Bueno Benito, Martins, Regina Helena Garcia, de Paula Pimenta, Walkyíria, Simões, Antônio Caetano Pereira, Marsiglia, Alessandra, Amaral, Amanda Vieira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem - physiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hearing - physiology; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - etiology; Hearing Loss - physiopathology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Reflex, Acoustic - physiology; Severity of Illness Index; Stapedius - physiopathology; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0003-4894; 1943-572X
• DOI: 10.1177/000348940811700507

Objectives: We performed a prospective clinical study of the cochleovestibular symptoms and the risk cofactors and characteristics of hearing loss in patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Group 1 consisted of 40 patients with type 1 diabetes, and group 2 consisted of 20 control subjects without diabetes. All participants answered a questionnaire, and their medical records were reviewed. They also were submitted to otorhinolaryngological examinations and to auditory tests (pure tone audiometry and acoustic immitance and auditory brain stem response [ABR] tests). Results: Dyslipidemia, hypertension, retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy were not frequent in the patients of group 1, but incipient nephropathy was present in 47.5% of them. The most frequent cochleovestibular symptoms were tinnitus and hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 4 patients of group 1 and was predominantly bilateral, symmetric, and affecting the high frequencies, coexisting with normal vocal discrimination. These patients had a longer time from diabetes diagnosis and had poor glycemia control. A delay of ABR interpeak latency I-III was observed in 11.25% of the group 1 ears. All patients of group 2 presented normal audiograms and ABR tests. Conclusions: In group 1, the most frequent cochleovestibular symptoms were tinnitus and hearing loss. The sensorineural hearing loss was mild, symmetric, and predominantly high-frequency. A delay of ABR interpeak latencies was detected in the patients of group 1 who had normal audiometric thresholds.