Ototoxicity: Is Your Medication Affecting Your Hearing?
Did you know more than 100 types of medications commonly used in the U.S. to treat pain, infections, cancer, heart disease, or kidney disease can damage the inner ear? Certain medications can cause changes in the ear because they are toxic, leading to irreversible damage. This is known as ototoxicity.
When taking medications, it’s important to speak with your doctor about the possible side effects and to understand how it may affect your hearing.
Oto = Ear | Toxic = Poison
Ototoxicity is a condition that occurs when the inner ear is damaged due to exposure to specific medications, chemicals, or ionizing radiation. The inner ear is so sensitive to changes that certain medications can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance issues. In fact, studies indicate that exposure to ototoxic drugs can damage the inner sensory hair cells necessary for hearing.
Some examples of medications that are ototoxic include:
- Antibiotics
- Diuretics
- Chemo agents
- NSAIDs
- Pain relievers (Motrin, Advil, etc.)
While pain relievers such as Advil, Aleve, and Tylenol are okay to take in moderation, daily consumption could potentially lead to hearing loss.
Symptoms of Ototoxicity
The most common symptoms of ototoxicity are:
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Fullness in the ears
- Hearing loss
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Nausea
What You Can Do
Before taking any medications, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the potential side effects and if they could impact your hearing ability. If you cannot avoid taking prescribed medication for another health reason, you should have your hearing monitored on a regular basis.
Annual hearing screenings will catch any signs of hearing loss early before it can begin to affect your cognition or speech recognition. Contact House of Hearing today to schedule your hearing screening and be proactive about your hearing health!