[Investigation and analysis of tinnitus in diabetic patients]

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of tinnitus in diabetic patients and the correlation between hearing loss and tinnitus.Method:Participants were patients with diabetes. Subjects were tested for hearing function and tinnitus symptoms by questionnaire and pure tone audiometry.Result:①112 patients (55 were men and 57 were women) were affected by tinnitus symptoms in 255 patients with diabetes，there were no significant differences between the number of male patients and female patients(P=0.278).②The incidence of tinnitus increased with age (≤30 year: 40%, 31-40 year :25%, 41-50 year: 27%, 51-60 year: 43%, >60 year: 55%),and there was significant differences in the number of patients among different age (P=0.001).③The incidence of tinnitus was no significant difference in diabetes patients with different educational level (P=0.648).④Totally 83 subjects who complained hearing impairment were tested for hearing loss by pure tone audiometry, while 113 (66%) of 172 subjects who insisted their hearing were normal had hearing loss. Of the subjects with normal hearing but tinnitus, 72% had hearing loss and 62% of patients without tinnitus actually had hearing loss.⑤There were statistically significant in patients with diabetes between the incidence of tinnitus and low/intermediate frequency hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss.Conclusion:The incidence of tinnitus symptoms is increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, which may be related to the age, the incidence of hearing loss,however, may be irrelevant to gender and educational level. Diabetic patients with tinnitus symptoms should be tested as soon as possible to achieve early intervention.