ABSTRACT
To study the drugs causing ototoxicity, their likely mechanism and developing rational approach for prevention and management of this therapeutic problem. Patients attending OPO and IPD with any evidence of drug-induced ototoxicity were included in the study and they were further evaluated by detailed history of drug exposure to find out drug responsible for ototoxicity and then local and audiometric examination of ear was done to find out the type and extent of hearing impairment the relevant drugs produced. 100 patients of ototoxicity caused by various aminoglycosides were studied and observed that Streptomycin is the commonest aminoglycoside and tinnitus is the commonest manifestation of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. Aminogtycoside causes initial high frequency hearing loss which in severe cases also involves normal speech frequencies, a significant hearing loss had already been established in most of the patients before the hearing impairment became apparent to patients or even to prescribing physician, so these drugs should be avoided where possible or preventive measures must be applied at least in high risk individuals