We assessed the auditory function of 94 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 94 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.To study the influence of the clinical characteristics of the disease on the auditory function, after a clinical interview with ophthalmological assessment, subjects were evaluated using pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem responses, the Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score and albuminuria. The mean age when diabetes was diagnosed was 42.8 +/- 6.5 years (mean +/- SD) and the time elapsed since diabetes diagnosis was 7.2 +/- 5.4 years.Forty-eight patients (62%) had HbA1c >8%; diabetic retinopathy was evident in 14 patients (14%) and microalbuminuria was identified in 12 patients. Compared to healthy subjects, diabetic patients showed an increase of the perception threshold at 8000 Hz (p