Are you taking ototoxic medications?

The biggest causes of hearing loss are exposure to noise and natural aging. However, certain drugs and medications have been linked to hearing loss and tinnitus, too. Use of these “ototoxic” medications, if not managed properly, can result in permanent or temporary damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve:

• Aspirin and other painkillers
• Certain antibiotics
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
• Some cancer treatment medications
• Diuretics

If you take ototoxic medications, come in for frequent hearing screenings. By charting numbers on a regular basis, your hearing provider will be able to detect changes more quickly and provide treatment and counseling more effectively.

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