OBJECTIVES: While hearing loss is a known late effect of childhood cancer treatment, the impact of childhood cancer treatment on vestibular function has not been comprehensively explored. Vestibular impairment is associated with delayed gross motor development and impaired balance, and thus is important to measure in children....
Audiologists and oncology teams caring for pediatric cancer patients should routinely screen for vestibular impairment alongside audiometric monitoring, as this study suggests vestibular damage is an under-detected late effect of cancer treatment in children.
Vestibular dysfunction in pediatric cancer survivors is likely underdiagnosed and undertreated, and systematic assessment could improve rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life in this vulnerable population.
- 01Study assessed both hearing (audiometric) and balance (vestibular) function in children with cancer diagnoses.
- 02Vestibular impairment is framed as an under-studied late effect of childhood cancer treatment.
- 03Cancer treatments such as cisplatin chemotherapy are known to cause inner-ear damage (ototoxicity).
- 04Published in Ear and Hearing, targeting an audiology clinical and research audience.
- 05Findings support expanding monitoring protocols in pediatric oncology beyond just hearing loss.
Vestibular impairment is an under-studied late effect of childhood cancer treatment.
studypartially supportedChildren with cancer diagnoses exhibit measurable vestibular and audiometric dysfunction.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42223283
- DOI
- 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001849.
- Journal
- Ear and Hearing
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Children with a diagnosis of cancer
- Intervention
- Assessment of vestibular and audiometric function
Primary outcomes
Vestibular function measures; Audiometric function measures