UPMC, 203 Lothrop St., 4th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
J Cancer Surviv. 2023 Jun;17(3):720-728. doi: 10.1007/s11764-022-01198-9. Epub 2022 Mar 29.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are prevalent among survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC), but auditory issues are under-addressed in the survivorship literature. The purpose of this study was to describe the hearing loss and management experience of a group of survivors provided with a hearing screening and amplifier assistance if needed during their visit.
A retrospective chart review of 1176 individuals seen in the HNC Survivorship Clinic between December 2016 and October 2020 who interacted with audiology was performed.
Of these survivors, 72% failed the 30-dB HL hearing screening at one or more frequencies. Thirty-three percent of the sample reported tinnitus. Consistent with the general population, this group has a low prevalence of hearing aid use. In this clinic, individuals who fail the hearing screening at all frequencies are offered a simple, non-custom amplifier for use during their visit. Thirty-one percent of individuals offered the amplifier used it during their Survivorship Clinic visit to enhance communication and reduce listening effort. Only 54% of individuals who failed the hearing screening self-reported hearing loss. The poor sensitivity and specificity associated with the self-perception of hearing loss data support the need for hearing screening that consists of responding to tones. Of individuals who received a recommendation for a comprehensive hearing test, 21% received a hearing test with 68% of these individuals receiving the hearing test the same day of their Survivorship Clinic visit.
The data from 1176 survivors of HNC seen by audiology over the past few years as part of the UPMC HNC Survivorship Clinic support the need for hearing management in this population to improve communication during and after the Survivorship Clinic visit.
Survivors of HNC have a high prevalence of greater than mild hearing loss and tinnitus (both issues known to negatively impact health-related communication and quality of life). This manuscript describes a hearing screening program within a Survivorship Clinic that identifies individuals in need of non-custom amplification during their appointment to support effective communication. Survivors should be referred to audiologists for evaluation and management of treatment-related issues of hearing.
头颈部癌症（HNC）幸存者中普遍存在听力损失和耳鸣，但在生存研究文献中，听觉问题的关注度不足。本研究的目的是描述一组在就诊期间接受听力筛查并根据需要提供助听器的幸存者的听力损失和管理经验。
对 2016 年 12 月至 2020 年 10 月期间在 HNC 生存诊所就诊并与听力学专家互动的 1176 名个体进行回顾性图表审查。
这些幸存者中，72%的人在一个或多个频率上未能通过 30dBHL 听力筛查。33%的样本报告有耳鸣。与一般人群一样，该组助听器的使用率较低。在本诊所，所有频率均未通过听力筛查的个体将获得简单的非定制助听器，以供就诊时使用。31%的个体在就诊期间使用助听器来增强交流并减轻听力负担。只有 54%的未通过听力筛查的个体自我报告有听力损失。自我感知听力损失数据的低灵敏度和特异性支持需要进行听力筛查，包括对音调的反应。在接受全面听力测试建议的个体中，21%接受了听力测试，其中 68%在就诊当天进行了听力测试。
过去几年中，UPMC HNC 生存诊所通过听力学为 1176 名 HNC 幸存者提供服务的数据支持在该人群中进行听力管理，以改善生存诊所就诊期间和之后的交流。
HNC 幸存者有较高的中重度听力损失和耳鸣（这两个问题都已知会对健康相关的交流和生活质量产生负面影响）。本文描述了生存诊所内的听力筛查计划，该计划在就诊期间识别出需要非定制助听器的个体，以支持有效的交流。应将幸存者转介给听力学家进行评估和治疗相关听力问题的管理。
