What side effects of treatment can cause hearing loss?
Some babies are very sick at birth. Medication or other types of treatment are needed in order for the baby to get well. Sometimes medication and other treatments are needed in order to save the baby’s life. Some of the medications and treatments can cause hearing loss. Some antibiotics that can cause hearing loss include gentamycin, tobromycin, kanamycin and streptomycin. Medications like dopamine or furosemide used to treat lack of oxygen have also been linked to hearing loss. Other medications that can cause hearing loss are used as treatment for cancer, like cisplatinum. The treatment for hyperbilirubinemia includes light treatment and may include an exchange transfusion. About twenty percent of babies requiring exchange transfusion develop hearing loss. If your baby is very sick and is in the neonatal intensive care unit ask the doctor to keep you informed about the medications and potential side effects of treatment. Why are premature infants at risk for hearing loss? Premature i
