[Effects of Cisplatin on Auditory Function in Children with cancer. Otoacoustic Emission Evaluation]

This study was done to ascertain prospectively whether distortion product-evoked otoacoustic emissions (DP-EOAE) might detect changes in specific frequencies damaged in inner ear function earlier, before they become permanent after cisplatinum exposure for cancer treatment in children. Sixteen children treated with cisplatinum for various types of cancer were repeatedly evaluated after each chemotherapy session; results were compared to 44 controls. We observed a progressive damage in auditory function. In second assessment 50% of DP-EOAE studies were abnormal; in the third study, 66% were abnormal, and in the fourth test 71% were abnormal. Our results suggest that DP-EOAE are useful tests for earlier auditory changes induced by cisplatinum therapy; higher frequencies are the most affected, and we propose that DP-EOAE be a mandatory test before treatment and during cisplatinum therapy to detect or diagnose early hearing loss.