It’s long been known that certain drugs– particularly those used for chemotherapy– are associated with hearing loss. A new study published in Jama Oncology reveals new findings on the long-term impacts of common chemotherapy drugs on cancer survivors. 

This study was conducted by a joint team at the University of South Florida and Indiana University. They followed a group of 100 testicular cancer survivors who had been treated with a common chemotherapy drug called cisplatin. After following the participants for an average of 14 years, the researchers found that 78% experience difficulties hearing and that this hearing loss negatively impacts their quality of life. Results were adjusted to account for factors like aging and noise exposure. The study found that higher doses of cisplatin led to more severe hearing loss, especially when combined with other risk factors like high blood pressure.

Chemotherapy is a lifesaving intervention and a vital component in combating cancer. These results underscore the need for continued research into making safer drugs, as well as the need for preventative measures to combat hearing loss for patients receiving chemotherapy. It is our hope at RestorEar that the continued development of preventative measures can help improve patient outcomes for years after therapy.