Hearing deterioration following treatment for head and neck cancer

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A study to explore the prevalence and degree of hearing deterioration following treatment for head and neck cancer

  • IRAS ID

    153759

  • Contact name

    Dr Sophie Wehrens

  • Contact email

    sophie.wehrens@surrey.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Surrey

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Head and neck cancers are those that either affect the lining of the upper airway or digestive tracts, or are in the salivary glands. These cancers are treated using a combination of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, however it is not known how many patients have a subsequent deterioration in their hearing due to this treatment. It is also not known to what extent hearing is affected.

    The proposed study will be conducted in a UK hospital and aims to investigate the following:

    1. To identify the proportion of patients that have a deterioration of their hearing following treatment for their head and neck cancer. Baseline hearing tests will be performed prior to treatment and deterioration of hearing will be assessed by comparing baseline hearing tests to those performed at the end of treatment and at 3 months after treatment has been completed.
    Significant hearing deterioration will be identified using a grading scale that indicates how much daily living is affected.
    2.To identify the degree to which hearing changes following treatment for head and neck cancer.
    3.To characterise hearing profiles of patients with head and neck cancer, prior to and following treatment.

    All patients who are diagnosed with head and neck cancer attending the local centre will be invited to participate in the study.

  • REC name

    London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/LO/2249

  • Date of REC Opinion

    8 Jan 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion