The occurrence of auditory dysfunction in children with TB receiving ototoxic medication at a TB hospital in South Africa

Objectives: to describe the auditory dysfunction of children with tuberculosis receiving ototoxic medication at a residential TB hospital in the Cape Town metropolitan area. Methods: A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The auditory status of participants was evaluated by otoscopy, immittance, audiometry or OAE and AABR (depending on the age). Study sample: 29 in-patients (7 months to 16.6 years). Results: Fifty five percent of participants presented with middle ear abnormalities (n = 16) and 48% (n = 12) had sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss ranged from mild to profound in 16% of the ears. The conventional pure-tone average of.5, 1, & 2 kHz did not allow for the determination of the degree of hearing loss in the remaining 18% which had high frequency hearing loss. Conclusions: The high occurrence of hearing loss necessitates the implementation of monitoring program for children receiving ototoxic medication. Consideration should be given to using the average of hearing thresholds at 4, 6 and 8 kHz to determine the classification of degree of hearing loss in cases of ototoxicity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.