Otoacoustic emissions: an approach for monitoring aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity.

Ototoxic drugs, such as aminoglycosides, affect outer hair cell integrity in the inner ear. Transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) characteristics are related to outer hair cell function and can be expected to reflect the influence of ototoxic agents. Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions were measured during amikacin sulfate therapy in nine patients. The duration of treatment for individual patients ranged from 9 to 33 days. A reversible decrease of overall TEOAE level, occurring after a treatment period longer than 16 days, was found in the majority of patients. The monitoring of TEOAEs is proposed as a method for early identification and, as a result, prevention of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity.