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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
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Adverse Cochlear Effects After Head and Neck Cancer Therapy
1Deptartment of ENT, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, B-96, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001 India.
Summary
Head and neck cancer radiation therapy can cause hearing loss. IMRT with chemotherapy resulted in the most significant hearing deterioration one year after treatment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Radiation Oncology
- Audiology
Background:
- Head and neck cancer (HNSCC) treatment often involves radiation therapy (RT), which can lead to adverse cochlear effects.
- Different RT techniques and the addition of chemotherapy may influence the severity of these cochlear impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of cochlear adverse effects in HNSCC patients treated with various radiation techniques.
- To compare the impact of different treatment modalities on cochlear function.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study of 132 ears from 66 HNSCC patients.
- Patients received conventional RT, intensity-modulated RT (IMRT), conventional RT with chemotherapy, or IMRT with chemotherapy.
- Pure tone audiometry was conducted at 3 months and 1 year post-therapy.
Main Results:
- Significant hearing threshold deterioration was observed in all groups one year after treatment.
- Bone conduction hearing loss varied: IMRT (19.63%), conventional RT (24.57%), RT with chemotherapy (36.48%), and IMRT with chemotherapy (70.78%).
- IMRT with chemotherapy (group-4) showed the maximum hearing loss, followed by RT with chemotherapy (group-3), conventional RT (group-1), and IMRT (group-2).
Conclusions:
- Radiation therapy for HNSCC, especially with chemotherapy, significantly impacts hearing.
- Intensity-modulated RT with chemotherapy poses the highest risk for cochlear damage and hearing loss in HNSCC patients.
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