HESP Seminar: Gayla Poling (NIDCD)

Ototoxicity Management and the Role of Emerging Distortion Production Otoacoustic Emission Approaches

Abstract: Hundreds of medications commonly prescribed for anticancer treatments and some infections are known to cause auditory and/or vestibular dysfunction, referred to as ototoxicity. Preventing or minimizing ototoxicity through earliest detection is critical to preserve quality of life for patients receiving treatment, promote informed decision making, and to reduce the longer term, societal impacts of hearing loss. Current clinical approaches are largely restricted to a limited frequency range (up to 8 kHz); however, this approach does not permit the earliest detection of ototoxicity, most likely to be observed at the highest frequencies (9-20 kHz). Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) offer a noninvasive, objective approach to monitor cochlear health in those unable to respond via conventional methods. Clinical practice has the potential to be enhanced by emerging DPOAE applications, including targeted monitoring protocols and high-frequency stimuli to assess cochlear function, as well as overcoming technical barriers to ensure stability of serial measurements. This presentation will highlight impacts and opportunities for incorporating emerging approaches for earliest detection and prevention of ototoxicity into current practice to advance ototoxicity management.