Ototoxicity is a topic relevant not only to otolaryngologists and audiologists, but
also to any physician who prescribes medications for severely unwell or malignant
conditions. Many of the drugs required to treat these conditions will possess side
effects that have the potential to damage the inner ear thus causing severe morbidity.
Unfortunately side effects that can profoundly affect hearing and balance are not
always considered when prescribing potentially ototoxic medications. Regrettably,
these problems often go unnoticed until there is severe deafness or an irreversible
vestibular loss. This article aims to identify the potential controversies with regards
to prescribing ototoxic medications, and discusses ways that a physician may use monitoring
to alter their practice.
Ototoxicity - vestibulotoxicity - cochleotoxic - monitoring - genetic susceptibility
