Evoked otoacoustic emissions as objective screeners for ototoxicity

Ototoxicity produces hearing losses that are irreversible. The only certain method of preventing debilitating ototoxicity is to detect it as early as possible in the treatment regimen so that medications can be substituted, doses changed, and/or the mode of administration altered. With increasing survival rates of patients requiring ototoxic medication (e.g., aminoglycosides, cisplatin), early detection of ototoxicity is important for providing effective management options. A protocol including the use of otoacoustic emissions to detect and monitor the impact of ototoxicity will be presented.