 I have recently been in the company of friends who have asked, how I became deafened and is there is any cure for the debilitating symptoms I currently experience. The answer to both questions is complex and with link on the side of this blog you can see for yourself the devastating Ototoxic effect this aminoglycoside antiobiotic.
Gentamicin can be extremly toxic to a small percentage of genetically pre-disposed people. Further compound this by adding Vancomycin, another potentially ototoxic antibiotic of the same aminoglycoside family, and result is a dangerously toxic cocktail, which has permanently wiped out 100% of my natural hearing (ototoxicity) . It has left me with permanent and irreversible damage to my (balance) vestibular nerve (eight cranial nerve) and vestibuloocular nerve (between eye and ear) as detailed.
It must however be kept in perspective. I experienced a life threatening septicaemia and endocarditus (infection of my heart valve). As I am allergic to the penicillian family of antibiotics, the drug Gentamicin was available as a last resort to fight this multi-resistant, gram positive hospital bug. Our options were nil so accepting Gentamicin treatment was our last resort.Our family and friends are aware of these symptoms and have been very supportive and non judgemental of my frustrations.
The following is mostly quoted from the web site:
I note there is little detailed here to the total and permanent hearing loss I have experienced as a result of this treatment . I have added that in and is supported by the article linking to the "What are Ototoxic Drugs" button above.[“According to theVestibular Disorders Association,the cognitive and psychological symptoms of vestibular disorders can include:
Difficulty concentrating and paying attention; easily distracted
Forgetfulness and short-term memory lapses
Confusion, disorientation, difficulty comprehending directions or instructions
Difficulty following speakers in conversations, meetings, etc., especially when there is background noise or movement
Mental and/or physical fatigue out of proportion to activity
Loss of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-esteem
Anxiety, panic
DepressionTinnitus - Ringing or hissing in the earsRoaring in head.
Oscillopsia - Bouncing Vision A person riding in a car down a bumpy road can look out the window and read street signs, recognize faces, and keep everything in focus, even when rotating the head from one side of the car to the other. A person with the condition known as oscillopsia sees only a jerky blur, even when the roadway is fairly smooth.Gentamicin Induced Balance DisordersThree crucial components work together to keep us balanced when we are sitting, standing, or walking. Remove any one of the three and we lose our sense of balance.
Staying BalancedYour sense of balance is controlled by:Vision - being able to see what is up and what is down
Proprioception - the feeling of pressure on the bottoms of your feet, or feeling how far your joints and muscles are flexed, all of which help provide a sense of your body’s position spatially
Vestibular input - signals to the brain from the inner ear, or vestibular system.Gentamicin can kill the “hair cells” of the inner ear that sense motion, sense gravity, and provide input to the nerves connecting the inner ear to the brain. Without these hair cells, the body has no internal “gyroscope” to keep the body in balance. If you have been the victim of gentamicin poisoning, your body’s vestibular system has been damaged and you must rely on vision and proprioception, (feeling the ground with the soles of your feet, or feeling a chair underneath you to know which is up and down), to keep you balanced upright.Depending upon the degree of vestibular loss, a gentamicin induced balance disorder usually requires a person to use a staff or cane to help them ambulate. A person usually doesn't walk in a straight line. Rough surfaces are harder to navigate than smooth surfaces. Any distraction such as wind, loud noise, crowds, or moving objects can make it even more difficult to ambulate.Because balance is now completely dependent upon eyesight and proprioception, any small loss of these senses is amplified. Diabetes can affect both eyesight and the sensation from the feet.
There is no cure for gentamicin-induced balance disorders, but treatment by a medical professional who specializes in vestibular rehabilitation or balance disorders can help you learn to compensate for the problem.”]I will add a post later concerning the Switch-On of my second cochlear implant.
Warmest
Colin 
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I have recently been in the company of friends who have asked, how I became deafened and is there is any cure for the debilitating symptoms I currently experience. The answer to both questions is complex and with link on the side of this blog you can see for yourself the devastating Ototoxic effect this aminoglycoside antiobiotic.
Gentamicin can be extremly toxic to a small percentage of genetically pre-disposed people. Further compound this by adding Vancomycin, another potentially ototoxic antibiotic of the same aminoglycoside family, and result is a dangerously toxic cocktail, which has permanently wiped out 100% of my natural hearing (ototoxicity) . It has left me with permanent and irreversible damage to my (balance) vestibular nerve (eight cranial nerve) and vestibuloocular nerve (between eye and ear) as detailed.It must however be kept in perspective. I experienced a life threatening septicaemia and endocarditus (infection of my heart valve). As I am allergic to the penicillian family of antibiotics, the drug Gentamicin was available as a last resort to fight this multi-resistant, gram positive hospital bug. Our options were nil so accepting Gentamicin treatment was our last resort.
Our family and friends are aware of these symptoms and have been very supportive and non judgemental of my frustrations.
The following is mostly quoted from the web site:Difficulty concentrating and paying attention; easily distracted
Forgetfulness and short-term memory lapses
Confusion, disorientation, difficulty comprehending directions or instructions
Difficulty following speakers in conversations, meetings, etc., especially when there is background noise or movement
Mental and/or physical fatigue out of proportion to activity
Loss of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-esteem
Anxiety, panic
Depression
Tinnitus - Ringing or hissing in the ears
Roaring in head.
Oscillopsia - Bouncing Vision A person riding in a car down a bumpy road can look out the window and read street signs, recognize faces, and keep everything in focus, even when rotating the head from one side of the car to the other. A person with the condition known as oscillopsia sees only a jerky blur, even when the roadway is fairly smooth.
Gentamicin Induced Balance Disorders
Three crucial components work together to keep us balanced when we are sitting, standing, or walking. Remove any one of the three and we lose our sense of balance.
Staying Balanced
Your sense of balance is controlled by:
Vision - being able to see what is up and what is down
Proprioception - the feeling of pressure on the bottoms of your feet, or feeling how far your joints and muscles are flexed, all of which help provide a sense of your body’s position spatially
Vestibular input - signals to the brain from the inner ear, or vestibular system.
Gentamicin can kill the “hair cells” of the inner ear that sense motion, sense gravity, and provide input to the nerves connecting the inner ear to the brain. Without these hair cells, the body has no internal “gyroscope” to keep the body in balance. If you have been the victim of gentamicin poisoning, your body’s vestibular system has been damaged and you must rely on vision and proprioception, (feeling the ground with the soles of your feet, or feeling a chair underneath you to know which is up and down), to keep you balanced upright.
Depending upon the degree of vestibular loss, a gentamicin induced balance disorder usually requires a person to use a staff or cane to help them ambulate. A person usually doesn't walk in a straight line. Rough surfaces are harder to navigate than smooth surfaces. Any distraction such as wind, loud noise, crowds, or moving objects can make it even more difficult to ambulate.
Because balance is now completely dependent upon eyesight and proprioception, any small loss of these senses is amplified. Diabetes can affect both eyesight and the sensation from the feet.
There is no cure for gentamicin-induced balance disorders, but treatment by a medical professional who specializes in vestibular rehabilitation or balance disorders can help you learn to compensate for the problem.”]
I will add a post later concerning the Switch-On of my second cochlear implant.
Warmest
Colin