In 2024, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed each of the following 10 medical conditions as a chronic illness: asthma, cancer (excluding skin cancer), chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. coronary heart disease, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity/fall risk. Hearing loss, fall risk and cognitive issues can be associated with each of these illnesses likely due to ototoxicity, microangiopathy, genetics, and other etiologies.

This program will review the risk, type, and degree of auditory-vestibular and cognitive issues with diabetes and the other chronic illnesses which could occur.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the top 10 chronic illnesses according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Understand how these 10 chronic illnesses can cause hearing loss, balance and/or cognitive issues.
3. Plan a management strategy for each of these illnesses as it pertains to the practice of audiology.