Auditory Research 2026

The Impact of Platinum-based Chemotherapeutic on Hearing in Children

Miriam Geal Dor 1,2 Noor Watad 3 Rita Asaulenko 2 Eden Elbaz 2 Cahtiaa Adelman 1,2 Gal Goldstein 4
1Speech & Hearing Center, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center
2Department of Communication Disorders, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary Center, Israel
3Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical School, Israel
4Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, Israel

Background: Platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs are associated with ototoxicity, which may result in irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. Previous studies have reported a broad prevalence range of platinum-induced hearing loss, varying from 13% to 95%, with younger age, higher cumulative doses, and combined treatments identified as major risk factors.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the effects of cisplatin and carboplatin on hearing in pediatric patients by examining the severity and type of hearing loss.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted as part of a larger study of children treated in the pediatric hemato-oncology department at Hadassah Medical Center. Of approximately 1,100 patient records reviewed, 162 met the inclusion criteria. Audiological data were obtained from behavioral and objective hearing assessments, including: audiometry, SRT, OAE, ABR, and tympanometry. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to evaluate hearing outcomes and audiological follow-up duration.

Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was identified in 26.5% of the participants, while 46.9% demonstrated hearing within normal limits. The most common audiometric configuration among patients with SNHL was a sloping pattern (46.88%), followed by very high frequency hearing loss. Severity ranged from minimal to profound, with profound hearing loss observed in 21.9% of affected patients. These findings are consistent with previous literature describing progressive high-frequency SNHL associated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Conclusions: The findings support existing evidence that platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity, most commonly presenting as a high-frequency sloping audiometric pattern. The results highlight the importance of comprehensive audiological monitoring before, during, and after treatment to facilitate early detection, timely intervention, and long-term management of hearing-related consequences.