Dude/dudette, I share your concern about ototoxic drugs. They seem to just decimate hearing in ways few things can. Instantly losing my fully functioning hearing bilaterally and being launched into a world of distortion, muffled sounds, decreased clarity and much louder tinnitus (and hyperacusis initially) is by far the most traumatic thing that's ever happened to me.
((Hug)). I *completely* understand the hopelessness and the anxiety.
But, I do have hope. For one thing, one of the ways they test these drugs in lab animals is by inducing hair cell and ribbon synapse loss (etc) with ototoxic drugs.
Will this cure be in the next 5 years? I'm not sure. In my lifetime, I truly think so. And when I'm older, instead of wishing to be young again, i know i will cry of happiness every day to be alive with my hearing and music and peace and joy again.
Imagine 20 years ago. No one even talked about regenerative medicine. There is at least hope now.
In my case, i strongly suspect i have brain stem hearing loss, too, but even *then* i think they will tackle that with (better and more specific) potassium ion channel opening drugs, too. It's a matter of time. I really believe that.
I'm sorry that it's obviously so hard on you,
@all to gain and everyone else who suffers so much with this. It will be our time again. Hang in there.