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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Children; Hearing loss; Monitoring; Ototoxicity; TB.