The Link Between Certain Medications and Hearing Loss

Did you know that, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, there are over 200 prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications that can cause hearing loss or tinnitus? These medications, called ototoxic drugs, can interfere with the sensory cells of the inner ear and can result in temporary or even permanent hearing loss. Knowing this, it’s important to understand what types of medications can cause hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) so you can talk to your doctor about your concerns.

How Do Ototoxic Medications Affect the Ear?

Ototoxic medications can damage the sensory hair cells of the inner ear. Some of these hair cells convert sound vibrations into electrical impulses that our brains interpret, allowing us to hear. Other sensory hair cells exist within fluid chambers in the ear and detect movement in the fluid, letting our brains know the angle of our heads in relation to the Earth’s surface. In other words, these hair cells allow us to keep our balance. When either type of hair cell is damaged by ototoxic drugs, it can affect our hearing and/or our balance. That’s why some medications can cause vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and/or hearing loss.

Often, hearing loss caused by medications develops gradually, and sometimes begins with tinnitus and vertigo before developing into hearing loss. For medications causing tinnitus or vertigo, the effects can usually be reversed and your hearing will return to normal after you stop taking the ototoxic medication. However, some of these medications cause permanent damage to the hair cells in the ear, resulting in lasting hearing loss regardless of whether or not you stop taking the medication that caused it.

Are Some People More At-Risk for Hearing Loss as a Side Effect of a Medication?

Typically, those who already have some degree of sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss caused by damage to the hair cells and nerves that deal with hearing) are more likely to suffer side effects of ototoxic medications. Also, those who take multiple medications that are ototoxic are more likely to experience hearing loss as a result.

What Medications Can Cause Hearing Loss?

As previously mentioned, there are over 200 medications – both prescription and over-the-counter – that can cause hearing loss. Rather than listing all 200+, here are common examples that you should keep in mind:

• Aspirin in frequent doses (more than twice per week or more than 8 pills per day)
• NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, celecoxib, naproxen, or sulindac.
• Some forms of antibiotics, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, neomycin, and similar medications.
• Loop diuretics, such as furosemide, ethacrynic acid, torsemide, or bumetanide, which are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
• Some platinum-based chemotherapy drugs.
• Some cancer treatment drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, or bleomycin.
• Certain antimalarial drugs, such as quinine.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Hearing?

If you start a new medication and notice some balance issues or tinnitus that you did not have before, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you notice and address potential hearing loss problems, the more likely you can minimize the damage. You should also have your hearing checked before going on potentially ototoxic medications in order to establish a baseline for any hearing changes. If you are concerned that your doctor might be prescribing a drug that could be ototoxic, discuss the risks with him or her to determine if you may be at a higher risk based on current medications and hearing condition.

What If I Do Experience Hearing Loss?

If you do experience some hearing loss, especially if it’s permanent, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Improve your quality of life and still enjoy being social with hearing aids. The good news is that high-quality aids don’t have to break the bank. At MDHearingAid, we offer three different models of affordable hearing aids so you can find the one that best fits your lifestyle and your budget. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.