Validation of uHear™ as a Screening Tool to Detect Hearing Impairment in Elderly Cancer Patients Within a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Validation of uHear™ as a Screening Tool to Detect Hearing Impairment in Elderly Cancer Patients Within a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Over the last few years, there has been a considerable interest in the development of screening tools to assess the capability of elderly cancer patients to tolerate anti-cancer treatment. Therefore, the NCCN Guidelines in Senior Adult Oncology recommend an assessment of co-morbid conditions that are likely to interfere with cancer treatment and tolerability. As presbyacusis is common in an older population, elderly cancer patients are at high risk for social isolation and a reduced quality of life. Therefore, in this project the investigators aim to validatie uHear™ as a quick and reliable screening tool to screen for presbyacusisf in routine clinical oncology practice.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients should have reached the age of 70 or more at enrolment
• Histologically confirmed diagnosis of solid cancer or hematologic malignancy. All stages of cancer are eligible
• Patients should be fluent in Dutch or French
• Patients must receive their primary oncology care in the participating hospital
• Patients should be cognitively capable of performing the audiology assessment
• Patients should have signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who do not match the above inclusion criteria
• Patients who are visiting the oncology clinic for a second opinion and do not wish to be treated in this clinic
• Patients presenting with clinically diagnosed Ménière's disease, retrocochlear hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease, fluctuating hearing loss or a history of sudden sensory neural hearing loss
• Patients who already have a hearing aid or a previously diagnosed hearing loss