Audiovestibular functions in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This study supports the proposition that vestibular dysfunction and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) may be considered among the complications due to noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the audiovestibular functions in patients with NIDDM and to determine if there is any correlation between audiovestibular dysfunction and the duration of the disease.

A total of 104 patients diagnosed with NIDDM and 104 nondiabetic control subjects made up the study group. Diabetic patients were also divided into subgroups of ≤7 years and >7 years according to the duration of the disease. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA), speech recognition scores (SRS), impedance audiometry, and vestibular function tests (VFT) were performed for all of the patients.

Hearing thresholds in all frequencies (except at 500 Hz for bone conduction) and SRS values were statistically significant in patients with NIDDM and control subjects, but there was no statistically significant difference according to the duration of the disease. Statistically significant alterations were present in VFT in patients with NIDDM compared with the control subjects. In the diabetic group, only failure in the saccade test was statistically significant according to the duration of the disease.