Sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss following speedballing.

Area of Science:

• Ototoxicology
• Neuroscience
• Audiology

Background:

• Hearing loss is rarely associated with recreational drug use.
• Cocaine and heroin, when used separately, have been sporadically linked to hearing impairment.
• Simultaneous use of cocaine and heroin (speedballing) has not been previously reported to cause hearing loss.

Observation:

• A case report of a 40-year-old male with a 20-year history of substance abuse was investigated.
• Audiologic evaluations included pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions.
• The patient reported a history of speedballing.

Findings:

• Audiologic assessment revealed a mild to moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
• The hearing loss was relatively flat and more pronounced in the right ear.
• Findings suggest potential cochlear and neural pathology.

Implications:

• Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss may be a rare complication of using cocaine, heroin, or both.
• This case highlights the ototoxic potential of combined drug use.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of drug-induced hearing loss.