SUDDEN SENSORY HEARING LOSS IN DIABETIC PATIENS

SUDDEN SENSORY HEARING LOSS IN DIABETIC PATIENS
Alireza Karimi-yazdi
Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, Neurotologist
TUMS

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) commonly defined as hearing loss of at least 30 dB at 3 consecutive frequencies within a maximum of 72 hours. Its Incidence typically ranges from 2 to 20 per 100,000 people per year. While SSNHL is the most prevalent type of hearing loss, its etiology is a challenging issue and in %85 to %90 of cases is idiopathic.

Diabetes is a well-known risk factor as well as a poor prognostic factor of this disease. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia due to diabetes are associated with increased blood viscosity and circulation disorders. Diabetic angiopathy that occurs in long-standing diabetes may involve the blood vessels that supply the inner ear.

For treatment, diabetic patients with SSNHL may be offered oral or Intratympanic glucocorticoids (ITG). Because of undesirable side effects of high-dosage systemic administration of steroid, intratympanic glucocorticoids seem to be a more reasonable alternative as a systemic treatment for SSNHL patients with diabetes and can decrease these unfavorable side effects. The available data are clear that if patients receive intratympanic steroid injections, their treatment outcome will not be inferior to systemic steroids in terms of efficacy.

In an ongoing study by author and their colleagues, the impact of the Mixodin (included curcumin, piperine and gingerol) as a complementary medicine combined with ITG on SSNHL in diabetic patients was assessed. It seems, Mixodin as a supplements combined with ITG may increase the chance of hearing recovery.