Vestibulo-cochlear functions in diabetes mellitus

Vestibulo-cochlear functions in 30 diabetics and 30 controls were evaluated. Hearing loss mild to moderate was detected in 40% of diabetics. This was typically bilateral symmetrical, more in high frequencies and cochlear in nature. Incidence of hearing loss was more in higher age groups, in poorly controlled diabetics, and in those without a family history of diabetes. There was no correlation between hearing loss and duration of diabetes. There was no evidence of vestibular dysfunction in the diabetics studied.