Methods of preventing or reducing ototoxicity in patients undergoing treatment with therapeutically effective amounts of platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin or aminoglycoside antibiotics are provided. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of an otoprotective agent comprising methionine or a methionine-like moiety to said patient prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequently to administration of the platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agent or aminoglycoside antibiotic. Combinations of these time periods can also be employed.