Which is the most likely cause of Jon's hearing problems after aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment?

Which is the most likely cause of Jon's hearing problems after aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment?

• A. Ménière's disease
• B. Pseudohypacusis
• C. Ototoxicity
• D. Bilateral otosclerosis

Answer: (C)

Ototoxicity from aminoglycoside antibiotics injures the sensory hair cells in the cochlea and sometimes the vestibular system, leading to sensorineural hearing loss that is often bilateral and starts at higher frequencies. This drug-induced pattern is the classic cause of hearing problems after such treatment, since these medications directly damage inner ear structures rather than causing a conductive problem. Ménière’s disease involves episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and aural fullness, not a direct drug effect. Pseudohypacusis is a nonorganic or functional loss, and bilateral otosclerosis causes conductive loss from stapes fixation, not a drug-related sensorineural pattern. So the most likely cause is ototoxicity.

Ototoxicity from aminoglycoside antibiotics injures the sensory hair cells in the cochlea and sometimes the vestibular system, leading to sensorineural hearing loss that is often bilateral and starts at higher frequencies. This drug-induced pattern is the classic cause of hearing problems after such treatment, since these medications directly damage inner ear structures rather than causing a conductive problem. Ménière’s disease involves episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and aural fullness, not a direct drug effect. Pseudohypacusis is a nonorganic or functional loss, and bilateral otosclerosis causes conductive loss from stapes fixation, not a drug-related sensorineural pattern. So the most likely cause is ototoxicity.