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

Objectivesto describe the auditory dysfunction of children with tuberculosis receiving ototoxic medication at a residential TB hospital in the Cape Town metropolitan area.MethodsA 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).ResultsFifty 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.ConclusionsThe 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.