title: Effects of radiation on hearing in patients with malignancies of head and neck.
abstract: Patients with normal hearing at the start of radiation were tested for hearing during (30 GY) and at the end of radiation therapy (45-60 GY) in order to determine if there was any alteration in their pure tone hearing thresholds. A significant increase in the hearing threshold was found at high frequencies at the end of therapy. At the end of the course of radiation, clinical findings suggestive of middle ear changes due to radiation were seen in 33% of the ears. Patients whose ears are included in the field of radiation may have to be forewarned to expect a loss in their acuity of hearing, especially those whose professional life may depend on it.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balraj
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rangad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000528:radiation effects; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D002648:Child; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004423:Ear / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006309:Hearing / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes