Ototoxic hearing loss and its treatment at hearing aid centre

Though ototoxic medications are necessary to treat severe infections, they can affect a person’s hearing. Ototoxic drugs can damage your inner ear and result in an impaired hearing, says an experienced audiologist of a hearing aid centre. 

Therefore, it is essential to know the causes and symptoms of ototoxic hearing loss to help you diagnose your condition.

 

Causes and symptoms of ototoxic hearing loss

Ototoxic hearing loss occurs if you are on a high dose of ototoxic medicines for treating cancer, serious infections, and heart disease. Some common ototoxic drugs that cause hearing loss are aminoglycoside antibiotics, macrolide antibiotics, salicylates and chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, loop diuretics and antimalarials.

Besides ototoxic medications, other factors that can cause ototoxic hearing loss are as follows:

• Family history of ototoxic hearing loss
• Exposure to radiation in the neck and head 
• Existing ear damage 
• A cumulative dose of drugs that have toxic effects.

If you are having a high dose of ototoxic medicines and experiencing hearing impairment, you need hearing loss treatment to reduce the risk of permanent hearing damage.  

Some symptoms of ototoxic hearing loss include: 

• Fullness in your ear, similar to the one you might experience during a cold.
• Unusual sounds in your ear may become louder if your condition is severe. 
• Ringing in the ears, often known as tinnitus
• Dizziness 
• Hyperacusis

How is ototoxic hearing loss treated at hearing aid centre 

Currently, there are no approved drugs to prevent or treat ototoxic hearing loss. The only cure for ototoxic hearing loss is through hearing aids. Whenever you experience ototoxic hearing loss, you need to seek the best hearing loss treatment in Kolkata from certified audiologists. 

Your audiologist will conduct a painless hearing test to determine the type and severity of your hearing loss. Depending upon your condition, an audiologist will recommend you hearing machines. 

If you or your family member suspects any symptoms of ototoxic hearing loss, schedule an appointment with an audiologist at a hearing aid centre and test your hearing immediately.