Breast cancer survivors face many health challenges, including tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo which will grow with an aging population and improved treatment outcomes. However, the prevalence of hearing/vestibular problems, racial differences, and relationships to physical function are poorly characterized in breast cancer survivors.
Audiologists treating breast cancer survivors should be aware that this population has elevated rates of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular problems — particularly if they received ototoxic (ear-damaging) chemotherapy — and that these issues may impair physical function, warranting proactive screening.
As cancer survivorship grows, understanding the hearing and balance burden in this population — including racial disparities — is essential for developing targeted audiology and rehabilitation referral pathways.
- 01Examined prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo (dizziness) in breast cancer survivors.
