As we think about our health goals for 2018, we wanted to share some things to consider when it comes to the use of medications and their potential impact on our hearing. Below is a terrific overview of what you need to know provided by Hearing Health, an online resource for hearing loss education.
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Ototoxicity is the term health professionals use for medications and supplements that cause hearing loss. Although physician-prescribed medications may be effective at treating specific illnesses, some of them damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear responsible for hearing and balance in the process.
Sometimes the damage is temporary – and sometimes it results in permanent loss of hearing. The risk for ototoxicity increases as the drug accumulates in your body. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are currently more than 200 medications and chemicals known to cause hearing loss and balance disorders.
Antibiotics
While these medications effectively fight infections, a specific classification of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides are considered to be ototoxic drugs. These are mostly prescribed to treat serious infections such as meningitis when other antibiotics haven’t worked. Research scientists from the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health and Science University believe that’s because these drugs are transported into the inner ear by a nutrient pathway that usually blocks potentially harmful elements in the blood from damaging its delicate hair cells. Their findings were published in a November 2011 issue of Scientific Reports.
Chemotherapy drugs
Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy, is often used to treat bladder, ovarian, and testicular cancers that have spread, as well as some other forms of cancer. Hearing health side effects from this specific chemotherapy drug range from tinnitus and vertigo to temporary and permanent hearing loss. Scientists at Oregon Health and Science University, who discovered a strong correlation between platinum-based chemotherapy and hearing loss, are currently developing ways to deliver chemotherapy to tumors without damaging hearing health.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Although aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are effective at reducing the inflammation that causes aches and pains, a study published in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Medicine suggests that regular use of these drugs can be detrimental to your hearing health. The study, conducted by scientists at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary found an increased risk of hearing loss in men younger than 60 who regularly used NSAIDs. If you’re taking daily aspirin recommended by your physician, ask about the effects on your hearing health.
Diuretics
Physicians prescribe diuretics to treat a variety of health conditions, including edema, glaucoma and high blood pressure. Sometimes these drugs cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus, although the reasons why are not well-understood.
Be proactive
Just because you need to take one of these medications doesn’t always mean you will lose your sense of hearing. Everyone reacts to medications differently, and side effects can range from temporary tinnitus and hearing loss to permanent hearing damage. Or, in some cases, it could mean no hearing loss at all. It’s best to be prepared with questions for your physician about hearing concerns. If they are prescribing these medications, it’s because you have a health condition that requires it and your hearing health is a secondary concern.
You can also schedule a baseline hearing test to check your hearing before ototoxic drugs do any damage to your ears. You can then work with your physician to monitor changes and take action if necessary.
If you are someone you know would like to schedule a hearing test, contact us today!
Source: Healthy Hearing