Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Preventing Hearing Loss in Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment With Cisplatin

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of cancer * Receiving therapeutic treatment with cisplatin * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * Cognitively and physically able to participate in the study * Must be able to provide reliable behavioral threshold responses (patient must meet intra-session reliability criterion of +/- 5 dB) * At least 6 months since prior treatment with cisplatin or other ototoxic medications (e.g., aminoglycoside antibiotics) * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent radiotherapy for head and neck tumors * Concurrent radiotherapy targeted below the neck allowed * More than 1 month since prior alpha-lipoic acid supplements Exclusion Criteria: * No aggressive behavior as indicated in electronic chart notes * No documented dementia * No Alzheimer's disease * No severe psychosocial disorder * No active or recent history of middle ear disorder based on otoscopy, tympanometry, immittance, or notes in patient chart * No renal disease * No Meniere's disease or retrocochlear disorder based on patient report or notes in patient's chart * Not receiving treatment for diabetes mellitus * No concurrent vincristine or vinblastine * No other concurrent investigational therapy * No other concurrent antioxidants or vitamin E \> 100 IU per day