Question:easy
Irreversible hearing loss is caused by which of the following?
Irreversible hearing loss is caused by which of the following?
Show Hint
Aminoglycoside hair-cell damage does not recover; macrolide hearing loss does.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Gentamicin
- Clarithromycin
- Both of the above
- None of the above
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The question hinges on whether the drug-induced deafness is permanent or recovers. Sorting the two named drugs on that single axis settles the answer.
Step 2: Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin are directly toxic to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear. Once those cells die they are not replaced, so the deafness is irreversible, and gentamicin additionally produces vestibular damage.
Step 3: Clarithromycin can also blunt hearing, but its effect lifts after the drug is withdrawn, making it reversible. Since only gentamicin produces lasting loss, the combined option and the 'none' option are both excluded.
\[\boxed{\text{Gentamicin}}\]
Step 2: Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin are directly toxic to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear. Once those cells die they are not replaced, so the deafness is irreversible, and gentamicin additionally produces vestibular damage.
Step 3: Clarithromycin can also blunt hearing, but its effect lifts after the drug is withdrawn, making it reversible. Since only gentamicin produces lasting loss, the combined option and the 'none' option are both excluded.
\[\boxed{\text{Gentamicin}}\]
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