The prevalence of hearing loss in children and adolescents with cancer.
The treatment of cancer in children has several side effects, including ototoxicity. Inner ear structures may be affected and hearing loss may ensue.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with cancer using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Pediatric Oncology Group Toxicity (POGT), and the Bilateral Hearing Loss (PAB) criteria.


METHODS
a prospective study.


METHODS
94 patients admitted between 2003 and 2004 were analyzed. Visual inspection of the external auditory meatus and an audiologic evaluation were done. Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the sample, and Kappa statistics was used to investigate concordance of hearing loss in the three types of classification.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hearing loss was 42.5% using ASHA, 40.4% using POGT, and 12.8% using PAB. The concordance of hearing loss was weak for POGT and PAB (k=0.36) and for PAB and ASHA (k=0.33). The concordance between ASHA and POGT was almost perfect (k=0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
Hearing loss is an important side effect of the treatment of cancer in children. Periodic audiology monitoring is recommended to detect early hearing loss and to revise the treatment if necessary. Adoption of a classification system that detects mild hearing loss (ASHA) is recommended.
da Silva
Aline Medeiros
AM
USP Schoolo Public Health, University of São Paulo. alinems@usp.br
Latorre
Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Mdo R
Cristofani
Lilian Maria
LM
Odone Filho
Vicente
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006315:Hearing Loss, Functional / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents