Advancing Ototoxicity Care: Scalable, Patient-Centred, and Context-Appropriate Solutions for Global Health

Ototoxicity is a critical yet often underrecognized cause of preventable hearing and balance disorders worldwide, arising from therapeutic drugs as well as environmental and industrial exposures. Despite long-standing awareness of the ototoxic effects of agents such as aminoglycosides, cisplatin, and loop diuretics, the problem persists—particularly in low- and middle-income regions where access to audiological services and ototoxicity surveillance infrastructure remains limited. The widespread use of ototoxic medications for conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV, and cancer compounds the challenge, resulting in substantial global health inequities. Recent advances in digital health, tele-audiology, and point-of-care diagnostic tools have renewed optimism about improving detection and management, yet the implementation of sustainable, scalable systems for ototoxicity monitoring remains inconsistent and fragmented across healthcare contexts.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding and practice at the intersection of audiology, otology, global health, and innovation, focusing on developing practical and sustainable models for ototoxicity prevention, monitoring, and care. It seeks to address key questions such as how digital innovations can enhance early detection, what frameworks enable equitable implementation of monitoring programs, and how multidisciplinary strategies can optimise patient-centred outcomes. By integrating evidence from clinical, translational, and implementation science, the Research Topic aspires to generate actionable knowledge that supports clinical decision-making and policy reform while enhancing patient safety and quality of life globally.To gather further insights into ototoxicity in diverse resource settings, we welcome original research, reviews, clinical studies, and policy-focused papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Development and validation of digital and mobile health tools for ototoxicity monitoring- Tele-audiology and remote assessment approaches in low-resource settings- Risk stratification algorithms and predictive models for early identification- Strategies for integrating ototoxicity surveillance into existing healthcare systems- Implementation science approaches to sustainable program development- Socioeconomic, ethical, and policy perspectives on equitable ototoxicity care- Lived experiences and person-centred outcomes in ototoxicity prevention and management- Task-sharing and community-based approaches to hearing and balance monitoringWe welcome contributions in the form of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Hypothesis & Theory, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report, Data Report, Policy Brief, and Brief Research Report. Topic editors: Lucretia Petersen, Wayne J Wilson, Adrian Fuente Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80987/advancing-ototoxicity-care-scalable-patient-centred-and-context-appropriate-solutions-for-global-health