Thanks to all who have responded. I, too, had the hyperacusis mentioned above (in my case, oversensitivity to loud noises in general and some in particular) along with increased tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss. My treatment protocol was two rounds of cisplatin, at the beginning and again three weeks in. The hearing changes were evident within four days of the first treatment.

I decided to go with my doctor's recommendation re: a second, lower dose of cisplatin. My tinnitus worsened slightly and the hyperacusis came back, but last time it subsided somewhat so I hope that may happen again. I explored his support for this approach in more detail and it relates to the results they are getting with HPV BOT cancers at the Cleveland Clinic, which is encouraging at 94% at this point in their study. They are reluctant to use the carboplatin, it seems, because it has not matched this track record in their experience. However, knowing what I know now, if I was starting again I would probably opt for the carboplatin, but in my case the damage was done after the first treatment.

On the plus side, chemo is done and I've only two more rad tx's to go. The small lymph tumors are no longer palpable or visible on PET and CT scans, and the primary BOT tumor and a 4cm neck metastasis have both shrunk by more than 50% in size and metabolic activity. The mucous is hell and I miss taste and normal eating, but as a friend pointed out, I am blessed to have a form of cancer that responds to treatment so that I will be able to reminisce later about how rough the treatment was. I wish everyone out there the best and will continue to be actively involved in the forums, which have been a tremendous source of support and reassurance--THANK YOU ALL!