Audiological Outcomes Following Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Pediatric Oncology Patients

This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the audiological monitoring of ototoxicity developing in pediatric oncology patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

This retrospective study included 14 patients aged 1 month to 18 years who received platinum-based chemotherapy at the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic between 2015 and 2023 and had pre- and post-treatment audiometric evaluations. Audiometric evaluations were performed in the 250 to 6000 Hz frequency range, and hearing loss was classified according to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria.

A general increase in hearing thresholds was observed post-treatment, with the magnitude varying by frequency. While significant changes were detected in low and midfrequencies, the most pronounced increase was observed in high frequencies (4000 to 6000 Hz), and the effect size was large at these frequencies. In the assessment of high-frequency hearing loss, 85.7% of patients had hearing loss. When comparing low and high frequencies, the increase in hearing thresholds was significantly greater at high frequencies. In comparisons between the right and left ears, a tendency toward greater hearing loss was observed in the left ear; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

Platinum-based chemotherapy may be associated with clinically relevant hearing threshold shifts in pediatric oncology patients, particularly at high frequencies. Regular audiological monitoring is important for the early identification and management of hearing loss.