Evaluation of the effect of autotoxicity on hearing in patients receiving chemotherapy by high frequency audiometry and DPOAE

Chemotherapy is one of the methods used in the treatment of various cancers. Some of the drugs used in chemotherapy can cause ototoxic effects. Ototoxicity is a pharmacological side effect affecting the inner ear or auditory nerve, characterized by cochlear or vestibular dysfunction. Hearing loss is usually permanent, sensorineural and bilateral. Routine tests for early detection of ototoxic damage are pure sound audiometry (PSA) and / or otoacoustic emission (OAE). However, ototoxicity first affects high frequencies. High frequency audiometry (HFO) has not been emphasized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ototoxicity on hearing before, during and after chemotherapy in patients aged 18-30 years by using high frequency audiometry and DPOAE tests by comparing with healthy control group and to determine which test is more sensitive in determining ototoxicity. In this study, 20 patients with planned chemotherapy and 20 healthy volunteers underwent ENT examination after routine hearing test, YFO and DPOAE tests were performed. The mean values of the YFO thresholds of 20 patients were evaluated at frequencies between 8 and 16 kHz. The mean values of DPOAE amplitudes were evaluated between 500 and 4000 Hz frequencies. The values of the patients were compared before, during and after the chemotherapy first cure. There was no statistically significant difference. This may be the result of our study is not based on long-term follow-up and genetic factors. Keywords; ototoxicity; hearing; high frequency audiometry; DPOAE