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Medication & Hearing Monitoring in Witbank (Emalahleni)
Certain medications — including some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and anti-malarials — can damage the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. This is called ototoxicity. If you are on any of these medications, regular hearing monitoring allows us to detect changes early and alert your doctor before the damage becomes severe.
What is it?
Ototoxicity monitoring is a series of hearing assessments conducted before, during, and after a course of medication known to carry a risk to hearing. Early detection of hearing changes can prompt a change in medication or dosage before significant or permanent damage occurs.
What to expect
- 1A baseline hearing test before or at the start of treatment
- 2Periodic monitoring tests during treatment — frequency depends on the medication and dose
- 3Immediate notification of your prescribing doctor if changes are detected
- 4A final assessment after treatment is complete
- 5Long-term monitoring if required
Who is this for?
- Patients undergoing chemotherapy (cisplatin and related drugs are common causes)
- Patients on long-term aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g. gentamicin)
- Patients taking high-dose loop diuretics
- Anyone whose doctor has flagged a risk of hearing side effects from their medication
Common questions
Which medications are ototoxic?
The most common include certain chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin), aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, streptomycin), high-dose aspirin or NSAIDs, and some anti-malarials. Your doctor or pharmacist can confirm whether your medication carries a risk.
Can ototoxic hearing loss be reversed?
In most cases, no — once cochlear hair cells are damaged, the hearing loss is permanent. Early detection through monitoring is the best way to limit the damage.
Do I need a referral for ototoxicity monitoring?
A referral from your treating doctor is helpful but not required. You can contact us directly — we will communicate our findings back to your medical team.
Ready to book?
No referral needed. Call us, WhatsApp, or send a booking request online.
013 656 6447 | 076 551 0531