Effect of irradiation on hearing

ABSTRACT

One hundred and ten patients receiving radiotherapy for neoplasms of the head and neck were studied for audiometric and tympanometric changes during and following radiotherapy. It was found that there was a latency period for the cochlea to be affected and there was a greater susceptibility of older patients toradiationinjury. Conductive deafness and serous otitis media which were found during the course of irradiation were explained by the affection of the mucociliary action by irradiation