Abstract
The need for monitoring hearing and auditory function during drug therapy and other
treatments that have the potential to cause hearing loss is well documented. Besides
the main purpose of ototoxic monitoring, which is to provide feedback to the attending
physician about the effects the treatment is having on the auditory system, it is
also helpful in setting expectations for the patient and his/her family about the
communication issues that may result from the drug therapy. This article will review
tests available to an audiologist, both subjective and objective, that can be used
to effectively monitor hearing levels and auditory function during treatment. Published
guidelines and various ototoxic monitoring protocols are reviewed regarding tests
administered, what constitutes a significant change in test results and how these
findings are reported, and the impact significant changes may have on the course of
treatment. Test protocols from different institutions are compared for both similarities
and contrasts. Effective scheduling and test location are key to a successful monitoring
program. Finally, the need to streamline ototoxic monitoring of hearing and auditory
function to reduce test time and make it less stressful and tiresome on the patient
will be considered.
Keywords
ototoxicity - distorting product otoacoustic emissions - extended high-frequency audiometry
- ototoxic monitoring program
