Q&A

Subject: Gentamycin

From: JG

What percentage of infants that receive the drug Gentamycin end up with a hearing loss? Is the hearing loss permanent? Are hearing aids successful with these children?

Dear J,
I don't have statistics or percentages. I do know that the physicians have become a lot smarter with the whole issue of possible ototoxic medications. They don't consider using them in the first place unless the medical need is urgent. Then, they conduct repeated blood tests to titer the amount of medication in the blood stream so that they can keep it below toxic levels.

In instances of drug induced hearing loss, hearing aids are usually quite helpful provided there is residual hearing to aid, and provided sounds are not too badly distorted. In the event of total hearing loss, these patients are considered good candidates for cochlear implant as the damaged part in the cochlea and the higher pathways respond well to stimulation.

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Solveig