When Neil Young released his album Harvest Moon in the early 90s, he was returning to his folk rock roots after a brief departure into heavier music. But what prompted his return to quieter musical pastures may not be what you’d expect. Like many rock stars, Young developed hearing loss while recording the distortion-heavy live album Weld in 1991, and needed to go easy on his ears.
Neil Young is not alone in the annals of rock stars with hearing loss. More than half of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have experienced some form of hearing loss.
People with Diabetes Are Like Rock Stars
In a way, people with diabetes are like rock stars. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss compared to people of the same age who don’t have diabetes. Even those with prediabetes are 30 percent more prone to hearing loss than those with normal blood sugar.
How Diabetes Relates to Hearing Loss
As you know, diabetes can lead to nerve damage in many parts of the body—feet, eyes, kidneys. Likewise, diabetes can cause nerve damage in the ears, which leads to hearing loss.
Over time, high blood sugar levels damage small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear. Similarly, low blood sugar levels over time damage nerve signals from the inner ear sent to your brain.
Medications May Be a Factor in Hearing Loss
It may be helpful to know that more than 200 medications are linked to hearing loss. If someone you know with diabetes is losing their hearing, a doctor or pharmacist can advise whether a medication they’re taking may be one of the factors causing hearing loss.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Neil Young says he damaged his ears in the short time he recorded the Weld album. But for most people, hearing loss happens slowly over time. That’s why it’s so hard to notice. Family members or friends usually notice it first.
Watch for these signs of hearing loss in loved ones with diabetes, who:
- Turn up the TV really loud.
- Ask people to repeat themselves a lot.
- Can’t follow conversations with two or more people.
- Think others are mumbling.
- Can’t hear well in noisy places, like busy restaurants.
- Have trouble hearing quieter voices, like children.
- Have balance problems, like falling or feeling dizzy.
Those with diabetes should visit an audiologist each year as part of their diabetes care plan. An audiologist is a doctor who checks ears for hearing problems.
For more information about keeping your ears healthy while living with diabetes, visit the CDC’s Healthy Ears Factsheet.
