An Analysis and Comparison of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials Among South Indian Middle-Aged and Elderly Subjects and Patients With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUNDDespite the evidence that the incidence of hearing impairment is higher in type 2 diabetes subjects, very little is known about the nature and characteristics of this disability and the specific mechanisms leading to the hearing problems in diabetic adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS40 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were included in the study and grouped as patients aged 35 to 58 years (A) and aged above 58 years (B); 40 patients were taken as control group with similar age grouping; 35 to 58 years (C) above 58 years (D).Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test was conducted according to the ASHA guidelines.Objective hearing evaluation was done by BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry). RESULTSHigher degree of Hearing Loss (HL) was observed in DM patients in all frequencies from 500 HZ to 10 KHZ in comparison to non-DM patients and it was statistically significant.Slower rate peaks occurred at I, III and V waves in elderly DM patients when compared to the elderly control group.(Peak I and V (p <0.001)).Similarly, in the middle-aged group peaks I, III and V occurred at a significantly slower rate in the DM group when compared to the non-DM group (p <0.001).Interpeak latencies at 21.1 rate for peak III-V and peak I-V were consistently longer among the diabetics groups of two age groups when compared to the control group (p <0.001).Similar results were obtained at 63.3 rates in the elderly and middle-aged group. CONCLUSIONIn the earlier course of Type 2 Diabetes, though the person may be asymptomatic degenerative changes may begin to appear in the central auditory pathway and result in significant HL, which could be detected with early investigation to elicit of Brain Stem evoked potentials.