A Study on the Dysfunctions of the Peripheral Vestibular Organs in Patients with Hearing Impairment

Abstract

A major worldwide health concern, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has a dramatic impact newlineon the vestibular and auditory systems. This thesis highlights the sensitivity of the complex newlinestructure of the Organ of Corti by examining the effects of neuropathic and microvascular newlinealterations brought on by hyperglycemia on the auditory pathway, from the cochlea to the newlinebrain. With over 21 million people afflicted and 12.4% of cases going untreated, diabetes newlineis a serious problem in India. According to WHO estimates, the incidence of diabetes newlinewould increase to 7.7% worldwide by 2030, with 69.92 million cases predicted in India by newline2025. The high prevalence rates (11.8%) previously reported by states like Tamil Nadu and newlineKerala, particularly among those over 50, highlight how urgent it is to treat diabetesrelated newlinecomorbidities, like as hearing and balance problems. Three forms of diabetes are newlineexamined in the thesis: gestational diabetes, Type 2 (insulin resistance and decreasing newlineproduction), and Type 1 (absolute insulin insufficiency, which often affects younger newlineindividuals). In Type 2 diabetes, persistent hyperglycemia causes neurological and vascular newlineproblems, including vestibular and auditory dysfunctions that significantly lower quality of newlinelife. Long-term elevated glucose levels harm the vestibular and inner ear microvasculature, newlineresulting in vertigo, lightheadedness, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The newlineprobability of these impairments is increased by poor glycaemic management, which is newlineindicated by HbA1c values more than 6.7%. Because hyperglycemia damages the vascular newlinesystems of the brainstem, cerebellum, and inner ear, it has a particularly negative impact newlineon balance and spatial orientation newline