As you know, diabetes is one of the most prevalent health problems today. An estimated 30 million people in the United States are afflicted with diabetes, while another 86 million are pre-diabetic.

Many physicians, however, are unaware that damage to the cochlea with subsequent sensorineural hearing loss and dizziness are the most common complications. The National Institutes of Health published a study in 2013 that concluded that diabetics have a 200% higher incidence of hearing loss than non-diabetic individuals. Additionally, the rate of hearing loss for pre-diabetic people is 30% higher than those who have normal blood glucose levels.

Unfortunately, all cochlear hearing losses are permanent with no surgical remedies. The progress of the hearing loss can be quite rapid if the disease goes untreated. Early diagnosis and medical treatment can dramatically slow down the cochlear degeneration. The American Diabetes Association recommends a yearly hearing evaluation for diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals, as well as those with a family history of diabetes.

A study published in October 2015 showed that wearing hearing aids reduced the cognitive decline that accompanies hearing loss. I have copied a summary of the findings below:

Researchers compared the trajectory of cognitive decline among older adults who were using hearing aids and those who were not. The study found no difference in the rate of cognitive decline between a control group of people with no reported hearing loss and people with hearing loss who used hearing aids. By contrast, hearing loss was significantly associated with lower baseline scores ... on a well-recognized test of cognitive function, during the 25-year follow-up period, independent of age, sex and education.

Donald Schum, PhD, Vice President of Audiology and Professional Practice for Oticon, stated:

The study indicates that people with hearing loss who wear hearing aids have the same risk for age-related cognitive decline as people without hearing loss. But cognitive decline is accelerated for the people who have hearing loss and don’t use hearing aids. With this study, we are seeing for the first time evidence that hearing aids are a prevention against accelerated cognitive decline in later years.

The study’s findings show the benefit of using hearing aids to restore hearing ability late in life. Unfortunately, statistics reveal that most people wait, on average, seven years before they obtain hearing aids. Furthermore, seventy-five percent of older individuals with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids choose not to wear them. We now see that this decision could have a harmful impact on the cognitive functioning of this population as they advance in age.

Fortunately, if you are one of our patients, you are part of the twenty-five percent who took action to improve the quality of their lives by using hearing instruments. I think you should find this good news.

A recent study published by researchers at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine revealed that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with both sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and mixed hearing loss (combined SNHL and conductive hearing loss). IDA is a common medical condition caused by a lack of iron in the body which leads to a reduced number of healthy red blood cells. Data from over 300,000 adult patients seen at a regional medical center was analyzed for levels of ferritin (a protein in body cells that stores iron) and hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that contains iron and carries oxygen). Information about each patient’s hearing was also gathered.

The study found that IDA patients had twice the rate of hearing loss when compared to non-anemic patients; however, the reason for the correlation was not identified. The authors speculated that IDA might be linked to hearing loss through an interruption of oxygen supplied by blood to the inner ear. A separate study found that IDA was associated with sudden SNHL, a condition often observed in people with vascular disease. Hearing loss could also be caused by a mechanism in which iron deficiency interferes with the production of myelin, a waxy substance that coats and protects nerve fibers. Damage to vulnerable fibers of the auditory nerve could lead to hearing loss. Future research will focus on the potential for reducing or minimizing hearing loss in patients with IDA through iron supplementation.

All too often we take our blessings as Americans for granted. Our veterans are owed a debt of gratitude for putting their lives on the line. Without their efforts, we could not continue to enjoy the precious freedoms that the founding fathers laid out in the Constitution.

Soldiers are exposed to a tremendous amount of noise when on active duty, so hearing loss is not uncommon. After being discharged from the military, all veterans undergo a rigorous series of exams to determine if a hearing loss is present and, if the tests are positive, to evaluate its severity. I am contracted with a subsidiary of the Veterans Administration to help make these determinations. Those with diagnosed hearing loss attributed to their military service are eligible to receive high-quality hearing instruments through the VA Healthcare System.

In my practice, fitting of new hearing instruments involves an in-depth protocol that ensures that the devices meet the patient’s needs and expectations in a wide variety of listening situations. The average appointment is at least 60 minutes. Unfortunately, the time available for VA audiologists to fit and program veterans’ hearing instruments is limited by high patient demand. Many veterans have commented that they wished they could hear more clearly with their VA-issued hearing aids, but they often must wait up to six months for an appointment with an audiologist.

I frequently witness the frustration that veterans experience with the limited performance of their hearing aids, and it honestly breaks my heart. In 2013, I made it my unadvertised mission to provide fitting and programming, free of charge, for all veterans issued hearing aids through the VA system. That mission continues in 2017 and beyond. If you know veterans who wear hearing aids, but wish they could hear more clearly, please pass on our contact information. We feel this is the least we can do to thank them for their service to our country and to welcome them back home.

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