Auditory function in children with diabetes mellitus

Fifty-one insulin-dependent diabetics and 13 nondiabetics between the ages of 8 and 21 years, without a history of exposure to noise, ototoxic drugs or ear disease, were evaluated to examine the relation between auditory function and diabetes, diabetic control and diabetic complications. Audiologic assessment included pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, impedance measures and brainstem evoked response audiometry. No statistically significant differences in auditory function were noted between insulin-dependent diabetics and normal controls, between the diabetics in good or poor control or between diabetics with or without neurologic or vascular complications.