Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
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Cisplatin has been associated with hearing damage. It is usually irreversible, bilateral, and characterized by high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. This study was carried out to identify impairment of hearing function in children and adolescents with cancer after cisplatin therapy. ⋯ Our data provide further evidence on hearing damage due to cisplatin therapy in children. The high incidence of patients with hearing function abnormalities found in this study and in previous reports highlights the importance of monitoring hearing function in children and adolescents undergoing cisplatin therapy, or as early as possible at follow-up. This study also demonstrates that DPOAE should be used for screening of hearing abnormalities and, once hearing damage is identified, patients require expert audiologic pediatric evaluation and (where indicated) use of hearing aids and/or speech therapy.