Department of Physiology, Narayana Medical College, Chinthareddypalem, Nellore
Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is increasing worldwide and it is more pronounced in India. Chronic complications are attributed to number of changes occurring at variable time period involving the vascular system, nerves, skin and lens. These complications are responsible for negative effect on quality of life with diabetes mellitus. Hence it has become important that chronic complications are recognized early and necessary interventions are made.
This study was carried out to compare pure tone audiometry and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with duration of more than 5 yrs and also in age, sex matched controls.
30 type 2 Diabetics with duration of more than 5yrs and 30 age, sex matched controls were subjected to Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses (BAER).
PTA -Avarage hearing loss with mean value is 30.6600 (p value is.018). A – B gap with mean value is 5.02006. (p value is.005). 1 BAER -Left side latencies III is decreased (p value 0.012). left IPL III -V is decreased (p value 0.012), right IPL III – V decreased (p value of 0.010). Amplitudes – I and V were not significant on booth sides.
To conclude our study showed unilateral deafness in PTA and bilateral deafness in BAER.
This indicates use of more than one modality of electrophysiological tests to buffer the fallacies of a single mode, in evaluating central neuropathy in patients with type 2 DM. Earlier diagnosis of central neuropathy is recommended to offer an early opportunity for proper management.
Diabetes mellitus, Pure Tone Audiometry, Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, Neuropathy
