Ototoxicity
Pronunciation: oh-toh-tok-SIS-ih-tee
The property of certain drugs or chemicals to cause damage to the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss, tinnitus, or vestibular dysfunction.
Full Definition
Ototoxic agents—including aminoglycoside antibiotics, platinum-based chemotherapy drugs (e.g., cisplatin), loop diuretics, and some antimalarials—can damage cochlear hair cells or the stria vascularis, leading to permanent or reversible auditory and/or vestibular impairment. Monitoring programs (ototoxicity monitoring) use serial audiometry, often including ultra-high-frequency testing, to detect early changes before the speech-frequency range is affected. In editorial documents, the adjective form 'ototoxic' and the noun 'ototoxicity' must be used consistently; the verb form 'to render ototoxic' is rarely used and should be recast. Editors should also flag the misspelling 'autotoxicity,' which may appear in non-specialist drafting.
Usage
Usage note: Do not confuse with 'autotoxicity' (a common typographical error). The adjective is 'ototoxic'; avoid the clumsy construction 'ototoxicological' in clinical documents.
In Context
- "Baseline audiometry is recommended before initiation of cisplatin to enable monitoring for ototoxicity." — Oncology audiology protocol document
- "The editor corrected 'autotoxicity' to 'ototoxicity' and added a query to confirm the drug class responsible." — Manuscript editing note