Study: Diabetics Need to Be Tested Earlier for Hearing Impairment

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism is recommending that people with diabetes be screened for hearing impairment at a younger age than non-diabetics. The authors note that an earlier diagnosis could lead to a lower incidence of dementia and depression.

"The association of hearing impairment with diabetes is controversial, but it is believed that over time, high blood glucose levels can damage vessels in the stria vascularis and nerves, diminishing the ability to hear," said Chika Horikawa, the study's lead author.

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