Non-insulin dependant diabestes mellitus [NIDDM] and hearing impairment

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to compare the diabetes characteristics between type 2 diabetic patients with or without hearing impairment. NIDDM patients were classified into group I and group II according to the absence or presence of microalbuminuria, respectively. Hearing loss was determined using PTA DPOAE and ABR. The results indicated that group I, group II and the control groups had comparable chronological age, age of onset of DM and weight. Systolic BP, diastolic BP and pulse pressure were significantly higher in group II than in group I. There was a significant increase in absolute latency of wave V at repetition rate in group II than in group I. A correlation existed between the degree of hearing loss and the duration of DM in group II only. There was a positive correlation between the degree of hearing loss and pulse pressure in group II only. A strong association existed between NIDDM and hearing loss