It’s true, hearing loss can sneak up on you. But in some cases, hearing issues bypass the sneaking entirely, in favor of a sudden (and often alarming), cat-like pounce. It could happen like this: you get up, drag yourself out of bed, and maybe you don’t detect it until you get out of the shower but your hearing feels…off, or different Muffled, maybe.
You just suspect that you got some water in your ears, but as the day progresses, and there’s no difference, you begin to get a little concerned.
It’s times like this when hearing loss seems to attack suddenly, as if from the shadows somewhere, that it’s a smart plan to get some medical attention. That’s because sudden hearing loss can often be a symptom of a larger issue. It could be a simple matter of a blockage in your ear. It may be just a bit of earwax.
But sudden hearing loss can also be a sign of diabetes.
Diabetes – What is it?
If you don’t instantly identify the connection between hearing loss and diabetes that would be understandable. Your pancreas seems like it’s a long way from your ears.
Type 2 diabetes is an ailment in which your body has trouble breaking down sugars into energy. When your body doesn’t generate enough insulin or can’t process the insulin it is producing, this is the outcome. This is why insulin injections are the most prevalent form of diabetes treatments.
What is The Link Between Diabetes And Hearing?
Diabetes is a common complicated affliction which can often be degenerative. With the assistance of your physician, it has to be handled cautiously. But what does that have to do with your hearing?
Believe it or not, a pretty common indicator of type 2 diabetes is sudden hearing loss. The link is based on the ability of diabetes to create collateral damage, most often to nerves and blood vessels around the extremities. Tiny hairs in your ears (called stereocilia and in control of your ability to hear) are especially sensitive to exactly those changes. So you might experience sudden hearing loss even before other, more conventional symptoms of diabetes kick in (numb toes, for example).
Is There Anything I Can Do?
If you’re in this scenario, and your hearing has suddenly started giving you trouble, you’ll definitely want to get looked over by a medical professional. You might not even know that you have diabetes at first, but these red flags will begin to clue you in.
Getting help as soon as possible will give you the greatest number of possibilities, as is the case for most types of hearing loss. But it’s not only diabetes you need to be watchful for. Here are some other possible causes of sudden hearing loss:
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Earwax buildup or other obstructions.
- Blood circulation problems (these are sometimes a result of other problems, like diabetes).
- Growth of tissue in the ear.
- Infections of various types.
- Problems with your blood pressure.
It can be difficult to know what’s causing your sudden hearing loss or what to do about it without a medical diagnosis.
Sudden Hearing Loss Treatment Solutions
Regardless of which of these your sudden hearing loss is caused by, if you catch it soon enough, your hearing will typically go back to normal with correct treatment. If you promptly address the problem, your hearing is likely to return to normal once the blockage is removed, or in the case of diabetes, once you address the circulation problems.
But quick and efficient treatment is the key here. If they are not addressed in time, some conditions, like diabetes, will bring about irreversible damage to your hearing. So it’s vital that you find medical treatment as quickly as you can, and if you’re suffering from hearing loss get that treated.
Keep an Eye on Your Ears
If you undergo routine hearing screenings, sudden hearing loss could be easier to detect and you might stop it from sneaking up on you by catching it sooner. These screenings can usually detect specific hearing problems before they become noticeable to you.
There’s one more thing that diabetes and hearing loss share, treating them sooner will bring better results. Untreated hearing loss can trigger other health concerns such as loss of cognitive function. Contact us to schedule a hearing test.
