Editing Sensorineural hearing loss (section)

====Ototoxic and neurotoxic drugs and chemicals====
{{main|ototoxicity}}
Some over-the-counter as well as prescription drugs and certain industrial chemicals are ototoxic. Exposure to these can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Some medications cause irreversible damage to the ear, and are limited in their use for this reason. The most important group is the [[aminoglycoside]]s (main member [[gentamicin]]). A rare mitochondrial mutation, m.1555A>G, can increase an individual's susceptibility to the ototoxic effect of aminoglycosides. Long term [[hydrocodone]] (Vicodin) abuse is known to cause rapidly progressing sensorineural hearing loss, usually without vestibular symptoms. [[Methotrexate]], a chemotherapy agent, is also known to cause hearing loss. In most cases hearing loss does not recover when the drug is stopped. Paradoxically, methotrexate is also used in the treatment of autoimmune-induced inflammatory hearing loss.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Various other medications may reversibly degrade hearing. This includes loop [[diuretic]]s, [[sildenafil]] (Viagra), high or sustained dosing of [[NSAID]]s ([[aspirin]], [[ibuprofen]], [[naproxen]], and various prescription drugs: [[celecoxib]], etc.), [[quinine]], and [[macrolide]] antibiotics ([[erythromycin]], etc.). Cytotoxic agents such as carboplatinum, used to treat malignancies can give rise to a dose dependent SNHL, as can drugs such as desferrioxamine, used for haematological disorders such as thalassaemia; patients prescribed these drugs need to have hearing monitored.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Prolonged or repeated environmental or work-related exposure to ototoxic chemicals can also result in sensorineural hearing loss. Some of these chemicals are:
* [[butyl nitrite]] – chemical used recreationally known as '[[poppers]]'
* [[carbon disulfide]] – a solvent used as a building block in many organic reactions
* [[styrene]], an industrial chemical precursor of [[polystyrene]], a plastic
* [[carbon monoxide]], a poisonous gas resulting from incomplete [[combustion]]
* heavy metals: [[tin]], [[lead]], [[manganese]], [[mercury (element)|mercury]]
* [[hexane]], an industrial solvent and one of the significant constituents of [[gasoline]]
* [[ethylbenzene]], an industrial solvent used in the production of styrene
* [[toluene]] and [[xylene]], highly poisonous petrochemical solvents. Toluene is a component of high-octane gasoline; xylene is used in the production of polyester fibers and resins.
* [[trichloroethylene]], an industrial degreasing solvent
* [[Organophosphate pesticide]]s