There are plenty of sites online that place hydrocodone in the category of being ototoxic, which it is for some folks. Placed into the same ototoxic category are many, many other meds that have nothing to do with pain management.
Most any med whose name ends with HCL can raise the level of the T that I hear significantly. The meds that are made with HCL are extended release, like Ultram, for instance, extended release tramadol.
Regarding opioid based pain relievers, keep in mind, this country has undergone huge changes in regard to prescription limitations. Scripts for hydrocodone are today being written in much lower doses in both quantity and quality -- this, to satisfy those who feel that abuses by addictive users, usually street users, far outweighed the legitimate use for relief.
Consequently, at this present time, true pain sufferers, not those who abused prescription drugs for recreational uses, but real pain sufferers -- folks who have cancer or have been hurt in car accidents -- are experiencing -- if they haven't already -- withdrawals from the previously higher doses along with constant, increased levels of pain they haven't felt for many years. Many videos have been made by amateurs as a plea for a return to hydrocodone in higher dose levels. It is heartbreaking to watch those who are deeply suffering due to these changes. So terribly have their lives been dramatically altered.
Lortabs were taken off the market, as were hydrocodone 10/500s and oxycodones, leaving painridden patients with no other options but the use of the lowest forms permitted: hydrocodone 10/325s and/or tramadol. It is a great injustice that needs remedied or we will be seeing more and more suicides as the months pass.
I've been on hydrocodones for perhaps as long as five years. My ears don't ring much more, if there is an increase at all. Other T sufferers may experience higher spikes than me that will continue until they get off the drug at fault.