Vestibular function is also vulnerable

We are concerned to correct a common misconception—namely, that ototoxicity is synonymous with deafness. Except for the rare cases of mitochondrial mutations discussed by Bitner-Glindzicz and Rahman, vestibular function is much more sensitive to aminoglycosides than hearing function.1 Ninety per cent of patients with gentamicin associated vestibular loss will not be deaf.2 …