While medications are intended to make you feel better, they can sometimes have unwanted side effects. Ototoxicity refers to inner ear damage from exposure to certain drugs or chemicals, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance issues.
In this article, we’ll look at what causes ototoxicity, the symptoms, and how awareness can help in prevention and early intervention.
Ototoxicity happens when certain substances adversely affect the inner ear's cells that are responsible for hearing and balance. Common causes include:
You may notice signs and symptoms right away as you start taking new medications, or it may develop over time. These symptoms often include:
If you notice these symptoms and think they’re connected to your medications or exposure to chemicals, talk to your doctor right away. Early symptom recognition can help prevent further damage.
Over 200 medications are known to be ototoxic. Let’s look at a few ototoxic medication types:
These medications are often used for severe, life-threatening bacterial infections. Ototoxic antibiotics may include:
Platinum-based drugs for cancer treatment. Examples:
Treat serious fluid retention and hypertension.
Examples:
High doses (6-8 gm/ day) can be ototoxic.
Example:
Ototoxic antibiotics can include:
Examples:
Before you start taking new medication, talk to your healthcare providers about potential ototoxic effects.
Ototoxicity can sometimes be reversible, but it depends on the specific drug, dosage, how long exposure has been going on, and overall health. In many cases, stopping the medication can lead to partial or full recovery of hearing or balance function.
However, ototoxicity may cause permanent damage, especially if exposure is prolonged or the inner ear is particularly sensitive. To minimize the risk of long-term effects, you’ll want to have regular hearing assessments during treatment with known ototoxic drugs.
While there's no universal cure, there are steps you can take. If your doctor allows, stop or reduce exposure to the ototoxic substance or look at switching to another medication. If hearing loss is significant and permanent, your healthcare provider may recommend talking to an audiologist about hearing aids.
Amplifon Hearing Health Care offers comprehensive support for individuals with a range of hearing health conditions. Services include access to a wide range of hearing aids so you can find the right fit. Make informed decisions about your hearing health with education on hearing loss prevention and management.
Request an appointment at a hearing care provider near you.
