Collaborative research project to detect early hearing loss in cystic fibrosis patients
Study
Researchers in Nottingham are investigating a new hearing test that may enable early detection of hearing loss in people with cystic fibrosis (CF).
The study is a collaboration between The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and clinicians and specialists at the National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit.
Cystic fibrosis patients endure recurring chest infections and unfortunately the intravenous antibiotics used to treat them may cause hearing loss. (One commonly used group of drugs called aminoglycosides is linked to hearing loss in CF patients.) The teams in Nottingham have joined forces to investigate whether the new test ― the High Frequency Digit Triple Test (HFDT) ―could detect early hearing loss in the treatment process, enabling doctors to reconsider future antibiotic prescriptions.
The project is being led by Dr Sally Palser from the University’s School of Medicine. She said, “People with CF already face many challenges in managing their health to lead as full and active a life as possible. Adding hearing loss as a result of their treatment is an additional burden which they shouldn’t have to bear.
“We are keen to find out whether this new test could act as an early warning system, enabling us to detect hearing loss in patients before they themselves have even noticed its effect. Their doctor may then be able to switch to a different medication in future to prevent any further damage from being done.”
Current tests for hearing loss in CF patients requires a separate specialist appointment and may not always detect problems at the earliest stages. The HFDT is easy to perform during the patient’s normal CF clinic appointment and does not require specialist training and equipment.
Dr Maria Koufali, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said, “This is a great example of clinicians and scientists in Nottingham working closely together to produce a simple but innovative diagnostic test which could make a difference to lives of children and adults with CF in Nottingham and elsewhere.”The research could also allow us to understand why some patients are more susceptible than others to hearing loss, and help us to prevent other forms of deafness.”
The research team is now looking for 300 patients from CF clinics across Nottingham hospitals and partner hospitals in the West Midlands.
Source: medicalexpress.com and The University of Nottingham
