Audiologic consequences of ototoxicity: case report with deterioration of the intelligibility of speech

ABSTRACT

Hearing is a channel of extreme importance for life because it enables the development of oral language; acquiring the knowledge to communicate with the world. Hearing loss can occur due to innumerous factors and can be expressed in various forms, according to its type and degree, and any impediment in the transport of sound to the central auditory nervous system implies a loss of part or all of the message content. Cisplatin chemotherapy treatment has ototoxicity as one of its described side effects. For that reason, the monitoring of the hearing of individuals submitted to cisplatin chemotherapy treatment has been a growing concern, especially in children presenting retinoblastoma. This study had as objective to describe the consequences of a hearing loss due to ototoxicity in the speech intelligibility of a child diagnosed as having retinoblastoma diagnosed at 22 months of age. Audiological monitoring showed a progressive hearing loss as well as deterioration of speech intelligibility. We have verified that the use of accumulative doses of cisplatin can compromise neural components of the auditory system resulting in a deterioration of speech intelligibility. The early detection of hearing loss in these cases is fundamental to avoid deafness progression as well as to conduct an adequate orientation for the school and family of the patient.