Ototoxicity-induced hearing loss and quality of life in survivors of paediatric cancer.

Introduction: Hearing loss is a permanent and debilitating side-effect of a range of interventions commonly used in the treatment of childhood cancers, primarily ototoxic medications such as cisplatin. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of hearing loss, in a population already at risk of reduced quality of life due to the cancer and treatment-related factors.

Methods: This study used a questionnaire specifically designed to tap issues relevant to children with hearing loss, the Paediatric Audiology Quality of Life questionnaire (PAQL).

Prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in children and adolescents with cancer: a clinical practice guideline.

Despite ototoxicity being a prevalent consequence of cisplatin chemotherapy, little guidance exists on interventions to prevent this permanent and progressive adverse event. To develop a clinical practice guideline for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in children and adolescents with cancer, we convened an international, multidisciplinary panel of experts and patient advocates to update a systematic review of randomised trials for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. The systematic review identified 27 eligible adult and paediatric trials that evaluated amifostine, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate or disulfiram, systemic sodium thiosulfate, intratympanic therapies, and cisplatin infusion duration.