SENSORINEURAL HEARING IMPAIRMENT (SNHI) IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PAKISTAN

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of sensorineural impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes and to explore the relationship between hearing loss and variables such as age, gender, HbA1C, and duration of diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2025 and included patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Data were collected using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) to screen for diabetes among individuals with hearing impairment. A non-probability convenience sampling method was used. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was employed to assess hearing. SPSS Statistics version 20 was used for data analysis. The chi-square test was used to assess associations, with results presented as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: The study included 195 patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus aged 25-65 years. Of these, 7.7% were found to have sensorineural hearing loss, which primarily affects higher frequencies (2-4 kHz) and is usually mild to moderate. Additionally, it was found that sensorineural hearing impairment was significantly (p<0.005) associated with diabetes duration, hypertension, poor glycemic control, and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSION: In this study, SNHI was found in only a small portion of diabetic patients. HHIA responses showed that most participants faced minimal hearing-related issues, while a significant link was observed between SNI and the duration of diabetes, poor blood sugar control, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. KEYWORDS: Pure Tone Audiometry, Sensorineural Hearing Impairment, and Diabetes Mellitus