Fort Wayne Audiology: Diabetes in Hearing and Balance Care
Today I'll review the pathophysiology of diabetes on the cochlea and the vestibular canals, as well as on the neural system. The result is a disruption in the perception of hearing and in balance, which increases risk of falls. I'll explain how Fort Wayne Audiology Center will ensure the best patient outcomes for diabetes care. Diabetes in the Body What is happening in the body with diabetes? Keep in mind that what is happening in the cochlea and the vestibular system is also happening throughout the body when someone has diabetes. Diabetes causes microangiopathy, or small blood vessel disease (SMD). With small vessel disease, blood vessels weaken and slow the flow of blood through the body. This may lead to organ and tissue damage and result in loss of function or diabetic neuropathy. When you look at the effect of diabetes on the cochlea, there's a disruption in the microvascular system as well as neural degeneration. The VIIIth cranial nerve innervates both the ...