Evaluation of hearing functions of TYPE 1 diabetic children: 2 year retrospective study

The aim of the study is to investigate the children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (Type 1 DM), pure tone audiometry thresholds, speech tests and tympanograms; gender, duration of illness and right-left ear. Of the 109 patients who were treated with Type 1 DM for 2016-2017 and whose ages ranged from 0 to 18 years, applied to other reasons for otorhinolaryngology polyclinic, having anamnesis and examination information ages ranging from 2 to 18, 26 children and 52 ears were included. Audiometry and tympanometry values were used to evaluate hearing thresholds and middle ear functions. Whether or not patients were included in the study criteria was determined retrospectively from patient registration forms filled by pediatric endocrinology. In measurements made for the right and left ears frequency of 4000 and 8000 Hz airway thresholds were found to be statistically significantly higher in the patient group with diabetes for 5 years or more (p <0.05)(Table 3). In the patient group with diabetes for 5 years or more, the values of right and left ear bone thresholds were significantly higher in the 4000 Hz frequency (p <0.05)(Figure 4). There was statistically significant difference and negative directional moderate relationship between right and left ear Speech DiscriminationScore (SD) values and disease duration values was found. İn study we found that SD values decreased while the disease duration was prolonged (Figure 5). As the result of our study; because Type 1 DM patients are at risk of developing hearingloss, this group of patient should be examined in detail audiologically and a clinical examination protocol should be established. It is recommended audiometry test be included in this protocol and corrective measures should be taken, this group of patients should be audiologically examined in detailand a clinical examination protocol should be established. Keywords: type 1 diabetes, hearingloss, pure sound audiometry,