hearing issues with chemo

2catsmom

Kimmiann said:

New Hearing Test Results
I had my hearing test today and it showed a good bit of hearing loss at the higher frequencies. This will not effect my communication but hearing doc is calling onc because she is concerned since I have 2 more rounds of Cisplatin to go.

Kim

Hearing Test
Kim, I had the same results. Mild hearing loss in both ears with moderate hearing loss in the higher frequencies. I asked if I need a hearing aid yet and he said it can probably wait awhile unless I notice I'm having trouble hearing. He did prescribe an antihistamine nasal spray to clear up my plugged ear (called Azelastine) but so far it hasn't made a difference. I saw my onc yesterday and showed him the audiogram results and he said the hearing loss might be from the cisplatin but the tinnitus, since it's only in one ear, probably isn't. Hard to say since I didn't have a hearing test pre chemo. Let me know what your onc says...

Ex_Rock_n_Roller

Hearing loss with chemo
I'm sure I have had some (Cisplatin + Etoposide), but it's been masked by, in probable order of importance:

(1) Decades of NSAIDs for arthritis (a veritable recipe for tinnitus)
(2) Explosion injury to one ear 45 years ago
(3) Hereditary high frequency loss
(4) See photo! Not a huge gigger (maybe 100 over the past ten years), but also not 100% conscientious with the earplugs. Sometimes you just gotta have the thrill of blasting yourself into next week.

In fact, I would have to say the cancer and treatments have taken my mind OFF whatever damage was occurring. I know it's far from this clear cut, but if I knew I had to take pronounced hearing loss to ensure lifespan extension, I'd sign the papers every time. I am finding it a little harder to hear some of my beloved birdies at a distance, though.

Kimmiann

2catsmom said:

Hearing Test
Kim, I had the same results. Mild hearing loss in both ears with moderate hearing loss in the higher frequencies. I asked if I need a hearing aid yet and he said it can probably wait awhile unless I notice I'm having trouble hearing. He did prescribe an antihistamine nasal spray to clear up my plugged ear (called Azelastine) but so far it hasn't made a difference. I saw my onc yesterday and showed him the audiogram results and he said the hearing loss might be from the cisplatin but the tinnitus, since it's only in one ear, probably isn't. Hard to say since I didn't have a hearing test pre chemo. Let me know what your onc says...

Hearing Test
The onc said to continue on at full dose. This will be my 3rd round or 4 rounds. We are going to check my hearing again 2 weeks after and if there is more loss or the loss is in the communication area instead of only high frequency we'll decide then. I told him my main concern is being deaf to the point of no help from a hearing aid and if at all possible I want to preserve enough hearing to be able to communicate. Onc has assured me he will not let it get to the point of total deafness.

Kim

bfp9548

Kimmiann said:

Hearing Test
The onc said to continue on at full dose. This will be my 3rd round or 4 rounds. We are going to check my hearing again 2 weeks after and if there is more loss or the loss is in the communication area instead of only high frequency we'll decide then. I told him my main concern is being deaf to the point of no help from a hearing aid and if at all possible I want to preserve enough hearing to be able to communicate. Onc has assured me he will not let it get to the point of total deafness.

Kim

hearing aides
Kim,
My hearing loss was the high range too. I couldn't hear the microwave timer, the alarm clock, the telephone, and most importantly my 5 year old neice. With my hearing aides I can hear all of these important things. The tinnitis is always there even with my hearing aides. I've gotten used to it after a while and it usually does not bother me. Keep us up to date with what is happening with your hearing. Just remember, hearing loss is something that can be corrected with the aides if it starts to hinder communication.

Kim

Kimmiann

bfp9548 said:

hearing aides
Kim,
My hearing loss was the high range too. I couldn't hear the microwave timer, the alarm clock, the telephone, and most importantly my 5 year old neice. With my hearing aides I can hear all of these important things. The tinnitis is always there even with my hearing aides. I've gotten used to it after a while and it usually does not bother me. Keep us up to date with what is happening with your hearing. Just remember, hearing loss is something that can be corrected with the aides if it starts to hinder communication.

Kim

hearing aids
Kim,

I barely hear the microwave timer. My little dogs yippy bark no longer bothers me. Sometimes I hear the phone. I am hoping I don't lose more hearing after this tx tomorrow but the audiologist was certain that I would. My oncologist assured me he would not let me go completely deaf. I don't mind being hearing impaired and/or wearing hearing aids if I have the chance for a cure. So, if there is more hearing loss I don't know what the oncologist will do.

My cancer stage is possibly a 2B instead of a 1B. There was a another very small nodule in my lobe that was removed. The pathologist indicated that is was part of the original tumor but the CT scan had showned the 14mm nodule and a 3mm nodule in the lower lobe and a 3mm nodule in the middle lobe that was still there and stable when I had a repeat CT before I tarted chemo.

The extra area that the patholigist indicated as part of the 14mm tumor was 2.5mm. So, the oncologist is treating me as 2B since the hospital Tumor Board agreed that there was no way to know for sure now or ever whether I was truly a 1B as the path report indicates or 2B.

Kim

Kimmiann

bfp9548 said:

hearing aides
Kim,
My hearing loss was the high range too. I couldn't hear the microwave timer, the alarm clock, the telephone, and most importantly my 5 year old neice. With my hearing aides I can hear all of these important things. The tinnitis is always there even with my hearing aides. I've gotten used to it after a while and it usually does not bother me. Keep us up to date with what is happening with your hearing. Just remember, hearing loss is something that can be corrected with the aides if it starts to hinder communication.

Kim

hearing aids
Kim,

I barely hear the microwave timer. My little dogs yippy bark no longer bothers me. Sometimes I hear the phone. I am hoping I don't lose more hearing after this tx tomorrow but the audiologist was certain that I would. My oncologist assured me he would not let me go completely deaf. I don't mind being hearing impaired and/or wearing hearing aids if I have the chance for a cure. So, if there is more hearing loss I don't know what the oncologist will do.

My cancer stage is possibly a 2B instead of a 1B. There was a another very small nodule in my lobe that was removed. The pathologist indicated that is was part of the original tumor but the CT scan had showned the 14mm nodule and a 3mm nodule in the lower lobe and a 3mm nodule in the middle lobe that was still there and stable when I had a repeat CT before I tarted chemo.

The extra area that the patholigist indicated as part of the 14mm tumor was 2.5mm. So, the oncologist is treating me as 2B since the hospital Tumor Board agreed that there was no way to know for sure now or ever whether I was truly a 1B as the path report indicates or 2B.

Kim

bfp9548

Kimmiann said:

hearing aids
Kim,

I barely hear the microwave timer. My little dogs yippy bark no longer bothers me. Sometimes I hear the phone. I am hoping I don't lose more hearing after this tx tomorrow but the audiologist was certain that I would. My oncologist assured me he would not let me go completely deaf. I don't mind being hearing impaired and/or wearing hearing aids if I have the chance for a cure. So, if there is more hearing loss I don't know what the oncologist will do.

My cancer stage is possibly a 2B instead of a 1B. There was a another very small nodule in my lobe that was removed. The pathologist indicated that is was part of the original tumor but the CT scan had showned the 14mm nodule and a 3mm nodule in the lower lobe and a 3mm nodule in the middle lobe that was still there and stable when I had a repeat CT before I tarted chemo.

The extra area that the patholigist indicated as part of the 14mm tumor was 2.5mm. So, the oncologist is treating me as 2B since the hospital Tumor Board agreed that there was no way to know for sure now or ever whether I was truly a 1B as the path report indicates or 2B.

Kim

There is no comparison
There is no comparison between living and hearing. Keep it up! I shouldn't admit this...but....sometimes... I used to use my hearing loss as an excuse to ignore things. I can't do that anymore since I have the aides. My coworkers say that I have bionic hearing now,. Ha!Ha!Ha! Just one more treatment to go, and you will be done. Keep me updated. Thinking of you.

Kim

Kimmiann

bfp9548 said:

There is no comparison
There is no comparison between living and hearing. Keep it up! I shouldn't admit this...but....sometimes... I used to use my hearing loss as an excuse to ignore things. I can't do that anymore since I have the aides. My coworkers say that I have bionic hearing now,. Ha!Ha!Ha! Just one more treatment to go, and you will be done. Keep me updated. Thinking of you.

Kim

I Agree
Hi Kim,

I get my hearing test again the Tuesday after next. I can say the ringing is a lot louder this time and I think I am losing more in the conversation range. I am constantly saying what, huh and I can't hear you!! The oncologist said we will decide where to go on the last round after the next hearing test. But, he promised not to let me go deaf so I can deal with that.

I'll let you know about the next hearing test.

Kim

kalliopi

cisplatin

Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin are commonly used to treat several types of cancer. While chemotherapy has saved many lives, an unfortunate side effect can be ototoxicity (toxicity to the inner ear). Ototoxicity often causes permanent sensorineural hearing loss. The hearing loss starts in the ultrahigh frequencies (greater than 10000 Hz; above the range for speech perception), so it is not immediately obvious to the patient. As chemotherapy treatment continues, the hearing loss becomes more severe and affects a wider range of frequencies. Eventually, the speech range is affected and patients may require amplification with hearing aids after completing chemotherapy.

This is what happened to my husband. We are not looking into cochlear implants.

Speak to your oncologist about this side effect.

Kalliopi