Type 2 Mild hearing loss and what to do

[Flaschenpost85]

Hi
I’m currently on levemir, metformin and levothyroxin.

For nearly a year now I feel my hearing going a bit. It’s not the usual everything is muffled but I can hear anything else but the background noise. For example, kids are watching tv and one of them asks something. They have to speak up or come closer to me instead of being at the other end of the room. Or husband walks away while talking and I can’t understathim anymore (he has started to talk quietly as well now so I struggle to hear/understand him at the best of times).

i went to Specsavers last year to get them to check my hearing and they only offered the standard listening test in a quiet room and I did fine.

Now my question is, is this related to diabetes? Where do I go from here, GP or Specsavers again? This is only noticeable if there is background noise. Has anyone experienced this? What are my option, can anything even be done at this stage?

TIA

 

[JohnEGreen]

It seems that there is a definite link between diabetes and hearing loss as high blood sugars can damage the inner ear this damage is often irreversible but maybe not always be if permanent the hearing aids are often required.

This is a link to an article from 2008 on the subject.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/hearing-loss-common-people-diabetes

And this from 2018

https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52910-Diabetes-and-hearing-loss

But it seems metformin reduces the risk of hearing loss as a complication of diabetes.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1479164119826292

 

[Antje77]

Now my question is, is this related to diabetes? Where do I go from here, GP or Specsavers again?

I've never heard of hearing issues connected to diabetes. (edit: Oh, I did now, seeing @JohnEGreen 's post.)
I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but in my country I'd ask my GP for a referral to an audiologist to have a professional look into it.

Wish you all the best!

 

[MrsA2]

Might be as simple as needing a syringe,
But best to go gp have it checked out

 

[JohnEGreen]

I have had hearing loss from long before diabetes due to damage to the inner ear and direct damage to the auditory nerves also MG has an impact on hearing some of the symptoms I experience are very similar to those described if there is background noise I find it impossible to follow a conversation even at close range also if there are several people talking at once in my vicinity the same applies it also depends on the frequency range of noises as I have worse hearing loss at certain frequencies.

If it is ear wax build up an appointment with the doctor would soon sort that out so it would be best to see your doctor about it he/she may refer you to the Audiology department at the hospital.

It is also possible to develop glue ear at any age.

My grandson was deafened at 3 years of age with glue ear his other grandfather was in his 60's when he developed it.

 

[Dark Horse]

There is a condition called auditory processing disorder where people have trouble hearing when there is background noise:- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/

 

[carty]

To to your G P and. explain ,they will usually refer you to an Audiologist
Carol

 

[Brunneria]

Check with your GP. They are likely to refer you in order to have a proper investigation.

My experiences of Specsavers pushing unnecessary reading glasses (at vast cost) to a family member does not endear them to me, and they certainly wouldn't be my first choice for hearing issues.

 

[Pipp]

Check with your GP. They are likely to refer you in order to have a proper investigation.

My experiences of Specsavers pushing unnecessary reading glasses (at vast cost) to a family member does not endear them to me, and they certainly wouldn't be my first choice for hearing issues.

In some areas, including where Ilive, NHS has contracted out audiology to Specsavers. I have regular hearing checks with them, and have my third set of hearing aids. The contract is for full hearing assessment, provision of any necessary hearing aids, and then regular maintenence. The contract is for three years. There has been no problem with having a new contract every three years, when I have a full hearing assessment again. I would not recommend approaching any audiology service such as Specsavers without a GP referral, though.
The service I have had has suited me fine, and when a problem was detected I was reffered to a consultant in ENT dept of local hospital for full investigation and MRI scan.

 

[Geordie_P]

This is anecdotal and I didn't get my hearing checked, but I noticed my hearing improving notably after stabilizing my blood sugars. I had had undiagnosed T2 diabetes for a number of years and had quite severe neuropathy in my hands and feet, and mildly blurred vision. I have always considered myself as having poor hearing anyway, so I hadn't thought of it as a diabetes problem, but after severely restricting my diet my eyesight and neuropathy improved greatly, and to my surprise my hearing became far sharper: I found myself actually needing to cover my ears at a fairly innocuous Christmas musical service at church.