BANGALORE: Yes, it's true; too many aspirins, taken over a long period, can affect your hearing.

Shailaja Nikam, Founder Director, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, says: "I had to deal with the case of a young woman who complained of hearing loss and could not say what may have caused it. Careful questioning and examination revealed her hearing loss was due to ototoxicity".

It is not a new-fangled disorder but something audiologists have suspected over the years: it amounts to "ear poisoning".

The side effect of some drugs causes it. Certain drugs and chemicals can have strong adverse effects on parts of the ear, including its auditory receptors.

"The offenders can be both prescription and OTC drugs. They belong to the group of aminoglycocide antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malarial drugs and salicylates such as aspirin," says the founder of the city-based institute, which researches speech and hearing disorders. Those prescribed such medication will do well to ask their physician about possible side effects.

First symptoms

The first symptom of ototoxicity can be "tinnitus" or a kind of ringing or tingling sound in the ears but its absence is no indication of the ototoxic effect of a drug, Dr. Nikam says.

The hearing loss that follows is likely to affect both ears and varies in severity.

"Audiometric tests show that high frequencies are affected more than low frequencies. This has implications for speech communication. Because of this impairment, speech sounds may not be fully heard," she says.

That may be why you find some persons answering questions you never asked.

The way drugs work on the ear is interesting. The inner ear is part of the auditory system that houses receptors for hearing and balance. The two sets of receptors may be differently affected.

Some drugs damage the sensory cells for hearing and some others, the sensory systems at the entrance of the ear that look after one's "balance mechanism".

The result may be hearing loss and/or dizziness; you are unable stay physically balanced.

Some drugs act fast; the damage may be noticed even after one or two doses and corrective steps such as reducing the dosage or choosing alternative medication becomes possible.

Some drugs may be taken for months before hearing loss is felt. Here the damage to the inner ear may continue even after the drug is stopped. Regular updating of patient information is necessary for preventing hearing loss due to ototoxicity.

Continuing and in-service training is a must for all concerned — those who prescribe, those who sell and those who consume. In known cases, information on ototoxic effects of a drug must be made known to the patient.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |