Diabetes Impairs Recovery From Noise-Induced Temporary Hearing Loss

Objectives/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether diabetes impairs the recovery from noised-induced temporary hearing loss. Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, diabetes with insulin control (DI), and diabetes without insulin control (DM). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. All animals were exposed to white noise at 110 dB SPL for 8 hours. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) amplitudes were measured for all animals 1 day prior to noise exposure to obtain a baseline for hearing function, and then 1 hour, I day, 2 days, 4 days, 7 days, and 14 days after noise exposure. Results: One hour post exposure, ABR thresholds shifted markedly, and DPOAE was reduced similarly in all groups. Both ABR thresholds and DPOAE returned to the baseline in the control group at day 1, but they were not back to the baseline in the DM group even by day 14. Compared with the control group, the ABR threshold shifts and DPOAE returned to baseline more slowly in the DI group. Conclusions: The present study suggests that diabetic patients need proper blood sugar control and probably need more effective preventive measures to preserve their hearing from the effects of noise.