Hearing Loss - Have You Considered Diabetes As A Cause?

by Julia Hanf

High glucose levels, which are the hallmark of diabetes, are also fertile ground for a host of other diabetes related complications. The reason behind this lies in the thickening of the arteries this glucose-satiated blood leads to which impairs circulation, hampering the processes of oxidation and nourishment. Extremely high blood glucose also causes tremendous nerve damage which, in turn, impairs sensation and responsiveness to stimulus.

The vascular tissues in the ear are amongst the first and most dramatically affected when diabetes strikes. The narrowness of the capillaries in this region also means that the diabetes-caused damage is a lot higher. These tissues play an irreplaceable role in the process of hearing, and thus the damage that diabetes brings about directly impacts the auditory ability of the individual. The poor blood circulation also impacts both the outer and the inner ear, destroying the outer ear cells which magnify sounds picked up by the cochlea, while also causing micro-vascular damage to the inner ear. Over time, this damage develops until it results in a palpable loss of hearing and even deafness.

The cochlea is located within the temporal lobe, which makes surgical examination imperative to detect any auditory damage. To gauge the extent of the diabetes-inflicted damage, your physician would also need to examine the neural pathways, which is only possible if advanced surgery is conducted.

External tests to estimate the extent of auditory damage are also misleading, as the loss of hearing which these tests discern may be a lot lower than the actual amount of damage diabetes has brought about. This questionable accuracy of clinical evaluation makes it even more difficult to deem the extent to which the hearing has been impaired and thus accord the appropriate medical treatment.

Diabetes also goes on to affect the auditory nerve, which relays auditory signals transmitted from the cochlea to the brain. This damage delays the brains reaction time to these auditory signals, making it difficult for the individual to comprehend complex patterns such as speech. Thus, as the auditory damage continues to develop, the victim experiences severe debilities in his communication, which are further compounded by the confusion this process leads to.

The best way to apprehend any auditory damage before you suffer any permanent debility to your hearing is to include regular auditory examinations as a part of your standard physical examinations. Your physician will determine the appropriate testing schedule for you, as well as the tests you are to undertake. However, as the adage goes, the most effective way to counter a disease is to destroy its source which, in this case would be to prevent high blood glucose levels at all times. Although this may seem like a daunting and continually uphill task at first, it can nonetheless be attained by simply adhering to your diabetes basics of a regular and planned diet, moderate exercise, glucose testing and medication. Take control of your diabetes today and watch your health take an immediate turnabout!

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.