Applying U.S. national guidelines for ototoxicity monitoring in adult patients: perspectives on patient populations, service gaps, barriers and solutions.
Dawn Konrad-Martin, Gayla L Poling, Angela C Garinis and 4 others
PMID 29157038WHAT IT FOUND
Adult patients at risk of drug-induced hearing loss often miss monitoring because referrals, scheduling, and staffing are inconsistent.
In a small trial, chair-side self-screening completed baseline and pre-dose monitoring for all patients randomized to that arm; the reported trial data are about test completion.
Key findings
01Prospective hearing monitoring for adults at risk from ototoxic drugs is inconsistent, and clinics vary in monitoring methods and outcome reporting.
02The main service gaps were patients never entering or lost to follow-up, baseline tests missed or done after treatment, and monitoring done infrequently or only after chemotherapy.
03The Oto-ID arm had baseline and pre-dose monitoring for all 21 patients, while only 2 of 19 usual-care patients completed a monitor test before each dose.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The paper is a narrative review and perspective, and the perspectives are the views of the authors. The program descriptions are self-selected and edited by respondents, not a systematic survey of programs. The trial data provided here report test completion. Current guidelines do not fully address balance or tinnitus monitoring. Practical barriers such as referrals, scheduling, staffing, and space are reported.
Declared interests
The supplied text includes no author conflict declaration; the publication types indicate NIH extramural and U.S. government non-PHS research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that chair-side self-screening reduces hearing loss, improves balance, or changes treatment decisions. The trial data provided here report test completion.