Early Indices of Reduced Cochlear Function in Young Adults with Type-1 Diabetes Revealed by DPOAE Fine Structure
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The relationship between type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and cochlear dysfunction remains inconclusive. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in normal-hearing young adults with type-1 DM as compared with matched controls and identify potential covariates influencing OAE findings. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. STUDY SAMPLE: N = 40 young adults aged 18-28 years including individuals with type-1 DM (n = 20) and age-gender matched controls (n = 20) with normal hearing sensitivity. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Measures of pure-tone threshold sensitivity and OAEs, including distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), transient evoked OAEs, and DPOAE fine structure, were compared between groups. Covariates such as noise exposure and DM-related factors (e.g., duration of disease, glycated hemoglobin levels) were considered. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance and linear regression. RESULTS: Measures of hearing sensitivity and auditory function in both groups were comparable for all assays, except DPOAE fine structure. A reduced number of fine structure peaks and component amplitudes were found in the type-1 diabetes DM group with the primary difference in the reflection component. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that reduced cochlear function in young adults with type-1 DM can be revealed using DPOAE fine structure, suggesting potential clinical applications of DPOAE fine structure in early identification of cochlear pathology. Potential factors underlying these findings are discussed.
DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.17113
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2894077287