Assessment of hearing in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Insights
Type 1 diabetes in children is linked to hearing loss, particularly in higher frequencies and more on the left side. Longer disease duration in diabetic children increases the risk of auditory dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Otolaryngology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition affecting children globally.
- Auditory function can be impacted by metabolic derangements associated with diabetes.
- Early detection of hearing impairment in diabetic children is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory function in Egyptian children with Type 1 diabetes.
- To compare hearing parameters between diabetic children and healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between diabetes duration and auditory deficits.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study involving 40 T1D children and 40 controls.
- Auditory assessments included pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions.
- Biochemical markers (HbA1c, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio) and dizziness questionnaires were also utilized.
Main Results:
- Diabetic children showed significantly poorer high-frequency hearing (up to 18,000 Hz) on both ears, more pronounced on the left.
- Speech reception thresholds and word repetition were lower in diabetic children's left ear.
- Transient otoacoustic emissions revealed reduced signal-to-noise ratios and amplitudes in diabetic children, especially with longer disease duration (>10 years).
Conclusions:
- Type 1 diabetes is associated with high-frequency hearing loss in children, predominantly affecting the left ear.
- Prolonged duration of T1D correlates with increased risk of auditory pathway damage.
- These findings highlight the need for regular audiological screening in children with Type 1 diabetes.
Objective:
To evaluate auditory function in a group of Egyptian type 1 diabetic children.
Methods:
This was a cross sectional observational study, which included 40 patients with type 1 diabetes and 40 controls. HbA1, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, and auditory assessments (including dizziness questionnaire, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and auto-acoustic cochlear emission) were completed for all patients and controls. Mann-Whitney U-test, χ2-test and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analyses.
Results:
Assessment of pure tone audiometry revealed that the diabetics had a significantly higher reading in high frequency at 8000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, 17,000 Hz, and 18,000 Hz on the right side and at 4000 Hz, 8000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, 17,000 Hz, and 18,000 Hz on the left side. There was a significantly lower level in speech reception threshold, repetition of words, and masking level of diabetics on the left side. Evaluation of transient otoacoustic emission revealed that diabetics recorded significantly lower signal to noise ratio at 4000 Hz on the right side and at 1000, 1500, 4000, and all Hz on left side. There was significant lower emission amplitude in the right side of the diabetics group at 1500 and 4000 Hz and at 1000, 1500, and 4000 Hz on the left side. Patients with failed otoacoustic emission were significantly higher in disease duration >10 years.
Conclusion:
Type 1 diabetes is associated with high/extended high frequency hearing loss, more prominent on the left side and with longer disease duration.
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