The prognosis depends on the drugs that caused the ototoxicity, and their dose.

The aminoglycoside antibiotics, gentamicin, kanamycin, netilmycin and tobramycin all cause hearing loss to varying degrees. These drugs may be used to treat life-threatening infections that are resistant to other classes of drugs, and so there may be no choice but to use them. Careful dosing can minimize, but not eliminate the risk. It is estimated that the chances of recovery are 10-15%. The hearing loss usually begins at the higher frequencies, and is usually not recognized immediately.

Erythromycin may cause hearing loss that affects all frequencies. This hearing loss usually reverses itself over time.

Aspirin and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) may cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). This stops when the drug is discontinued.

The diuretics may cause a hearing loss with a rapid onset. This will usually, but not always, reverse itself when the drugs are stopped.

In some cases, the prognosis isn't really clear. Vancomycin appears to cause hearing loss, but this may only occur when vancomycin is used at the same time as other ototoxic drugs, such as gentamicin or erythromycin.