Hearing impairment in diabetics.

Bekesy audiometry, impedance audiometry with stapedius reflex test, speech discrimination and the recording of electrocochleography (ECochG) and brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were performed in 43 diabetics and 43 strictly sex- and age-matched nondiabetic controls. The results revealed that the average pure-tone thresholds, subjective click threshold and AP reactive threshold were significantly elevated in the diabetics. The average speech discrimination maximum score was significantly decreased in the diabetics. The diabetic hearing impairment was characterized by high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Both the cochlear and retrocochlear pathology existed in the diabetics with hearing impairment.