title: Early detection of ototoxicity using 1/6th-octave steps.
abstract: The National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research has developed a protocol to provide early identification of ototoxicity for patients receiving ototoxic medications. The initial work involved patients with relatively good high-frequency hearing and resulted in the use of an individualized, sensitive frequency range separated by 1/6th-octave intervals. This protocol tested pure-tone frequencies at 1/6th-octave steps above 9 kHz, but only conventional audiometric frequencies were tested below 9 kHz. More recently, the testing protocol was expanded to include 1/6th-octave testing below 9 kHz. The primary question of interest was to determine whether adding 1/6th-octave test frequencies below 9 kHz would increase the ototoxicity detection rate for patients with poorer hearing. Results indicated 76 of the 210 (36.2%) ears that demonstrated initial ototoxic hearing change would have been missed or detected later if only conventional frequency testing was conducted.Therefore, for individuals with poorer hearing, expanding the use of the 1/6th-octave test protocol provides earlier identification of ototoxicity.
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. Stephen.fausti@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fausti
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Helt
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Gene W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Bratt
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noffsinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents