Why is my hearing fluctuating?

Q: I am 65 years old and diabetic. My left ear is completely gone and I cannot hear. My right ear is also affected now. I had shown this to numerous doctors. I am using hearing aids for my right ear. Why am I getting variations in hearing? Is it due to food? I walk and exercise regularly.

A:With diabetes and age, you do have sensory neural hearing loss, and hearing aid is the only answer. As far as fluctuation in hearing level is concerned, wax, allergy, common cold, can all cause fluctuation in hearing, due to a change in the conductive element of hearing. In case the hearing loss documented by repeated audiometry is fluctuating (more than 10-20 dB at the same center on repeated occasions), then further investigations are warranted.