Is hearing loss a common symptom of ovarian cancer?

Hearing loss is not considered a common or typical symptom of ovarian cancer. Core symptoms of ovarian cancer usually involve the abdomen and pelvis, such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, frequent urination, bowel changes, back pain, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. ^{[1] [2] [3]} If these types of symptoms persist most days for more than two to three weeks, evaluation is generally recommended. ^[4]

What typically causes hearing loss in people with ovarian cancer?

• Chemotherapy ototoxicity (hearing damage)

  • Some cancer treatments especially platinum-based drugs can injure the inner ear (ototoxicity), leading to tinnitus (ringing), high‑frequency hearing loss, or even difficulty hearing conversation. ^[5] Cisplatin is the most strongly associated agent; ototoxicity can occur during or after treatment, may affect one or both ears, and has been reported even after the first dose in some cases. ^{[6] [7]} The risk can increase with higher cumulative dose and in people with pre‑existing hearing issues or when combined with other ototoxic medicines. ^{[8] [9]}

• Radiation-related ear effects

  • Radiation involving the head/ear region can injure inner ear structures and cause sensorineural hearing loss; while this is more relevant for head and neck cancers, the mechanism illustrates how cancer therapy can affect hearing. ^[5]

• Rare paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes

  • Ovarian cancer can rarely be associated with immune‑mediated (paraneoplastic) neurologic syndromes, which are caused by the immune system reacting to the cancer and also affecting parts of the nervous system. ^[10] These syndromes are uncommon but can precede or accompany cancer; when the nervous system is involved, symptoms may progress over days to weeks. ^[11] Although hearing loss is not a classic hallmark, the concept explains how cancer can sometimes cause neurologic symptoms indirectly. ^{[12] [13]}

• Unrelated or coincidental causes

  • Common non-cancer causes (age-related hearing loss, noise exposure, earwax impaction, infections, eustachian tube dysfunction) can occur in anyone and may coincide with an ovarian cancer diagnosis without being caused by it. This is important because ovarian cancer itself typically does not produce ear symptoms. ^{[1] [3]}

How common is it?

There is no evidence that hearing loss itself is a common presenting symptom of ovarian cancer. Core symptom lists from leading cancer centers and clinical resources do not include hearing loss among typical ovarian cancer symptoms. ^{[1] [2] [3]} When hearing problems occur in someone being treated for ovarian cancer, they are more often linked to treatment effects particularly platinum chemotherapy rather than the tumor itself. ^{[5] [6] [8]}

Red flags that should prompt medical review

• New-onset tinnitus or trouble hearing high‑pitched sounds during or after platinum chemotherapy could suggest ototoxicity. ^{[6] [7]}
• Rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms (e.g., balance issues, visual changes, limb weakness) may suggest a neurologic complication and warrant urgent evaluation. ^[11]

What to do next: evaluation

• Report symptoms early

  • Let your oncology team know promptly about any new ringing, fullness, or hearing difficulty; early recognition can guide dose adjustments and protective strategies. ^{[8] [9]}

• Get a baseline and follow‑up hearing test

  • Audiometry (hearing test) is generally recommended if symptoms develop and can be considered at baseline when using known ototoxic drugs. ^{[8] [9]}

• Review medications

  • Your care team can check for other drugs that may increase risk (e.g., certain antibiotics like aminoglycosides) and optimize your regimen. ^{[8] [9]}

Management options

• Modify cancer treatment if appropriate

  • Depending on severity, clinicians may adjust the chemotherapy dose, change the schedule, or consider alternative agents to limit further ear damage. This is individualized to balance cancer control with side‑effect risk. ^{[8] [9]}

• Audiology‑led rehabilitation

  • Specialized audiology services can provide diagnostic tracking, hearing aids, and tinnitus strategies; these programs are designed specifically for treatment‑related hearing loss. ^[5]

• Supportive strategies

  • Practical steps include reducing background noise, using assistive listening devices, and communication techniques while formal hearing support is arranged. ^[5]

• Ongoing monitoring

  • Continued audiometric follow‑up helps track stability or progression and guides device fitting and therapy adjustments. ^[9]

Quick reference table

Topic	What to know	Why it matters
Is hearing loss a typical ovarian cancer symptom?	No; ovarian cancer usually causes abdominal/pelvic and urinary/GI symptoms. [1] [2] [3]	Prevents misattribution of common ear symptoms to the cancer itself.
Most likely cause during treatment	Ototoxicity from platinum agents (notably cisplatin); may cause tinnitus and high‑frequency loss. [6] [7] [8]	Early reporting can reduce cumulative damage.
When to test hearing	Baseline (when feasible with ototoxins) and if symptoms arise; repeat to monitor. [8] [9]	Documents changes and guides treatment decisions.
Who can help	Audiology teams provide detection and rehabilitation (hearing aids, tinnitus care). [5]	Improves day‑to‑day communication and quality of life.
Rare mechanisms	Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are uncommon but can affect the nervous system. [10] [11]	Alerts clinicians to investigate rapidly progressive neurologic symptoms.

Key takeaways

• Hearing loss is not a common symptom of ovarian cancer itself; typical symptoms are abdominal/pelvic and urinary/GI in nature. ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• In people receiving treatment for ovarian cancer, hearing problems are more often related to therapy (especially platinum chemotherapy) and should be reported quickly for evaluation and management. ^{[5] [6] [8]}
• Audiology care, hearing tests, and individualized treatment adjustments can meaningfully help protect hearing and improve quality of life. ^{[5] [9]}