EFFICIENCY OF DISTORTION PRODUCT OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS AS A METHOD FOR OTOTOXICITY MONITORING

Objective The purpose of this study is to describe hearing and auditory functional changes in patients receiving platinum-based treatments and to estimate the capacity of DPOAE and pure tone audiometry in evaluating ototoxicity as well as evaluating the risk factors of ototoxicity. Design Standard pure tone audiometry at frequencies of 250–8000 Hz, and also at 12000 Hz and DPOAE recording were tested prior to starting chemotherapy and once again at the end of our program. Study sample 56 patients receiving cisplatin and carboplatin were tested. Results At the conventional frequencies, ototoxicity occurred in 6 (33%) of 18 patients who received cisplatin and in 12 (32%) of 38 carboplatin patients. Ototoxic hearing loss only at 12000 Hz occurred in 5 (28%) patients who received cisplatin and in 2 (5%) carboplatin patients. DPOAEs declined in 9 (75%) of 12 patients who received cisplatin and in 7 (44%) of 16 carboplatin patients. Increased dosage of platinum brought about hearing loss. Our study also investigated the initial hearing threshold as a risk factor for ototoxicity development. Conclusion Ototoxicity monitoring ought to be an important and valuable option in patients being treated with chemotherapy.