Elite Audiology is Partnering with the Better Hearing Institute to Raise Awareness of Hearing Loss and Diabetes
Hearing loss is nearly twice as common in adults with diabetes, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Yet hearing screenings are often not part of the regular regimen of care that people with diabetes receive. "Physicians who treat people with diabetes ensure that their patients receive regular vision check-ups. They also need to encourage their patients to get their hearing checked," says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI.org). "It is very important for people with diabetes to understand that they may have an increased risk of hearing loss.
Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. and a quarter of them—7 million—don't even know they have it. An additional 79 million have pre- diabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three Americans will have diabetes by 2050 unless steps are taken to curb the disease.
American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a one-day, “wake-up call” urging all Americans to take the Diabetes Risk Test to determine if they are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Risk factors include anyone over 45 who is overweight and has a sedentary lifestyle, and those of African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander descent with a family history of diabetes.
Studies show that type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed by losing just 7% of body weight, through regular physical activity (and healthy eating. Understanding risk factors and taking a few simple steps can help prevent the onset of the disease.
If you have diabetes, or suspect you have a hearing loss, call Audiology Services at (513) 422-6516 for a free hearing screening.
To get a free Diabetes Risk Test available all year long, call the American Diabetes Association: 1-800-342-2383 (1-800-DIABETES ). Or e-mail us for further information at
