A method for preventing or treating hearing loss includes administering a composition comprising an oat extract to a subject. The method may use avenanthramide or a derivative thereof an oat extract. The oat extract has an effect on hair cells of the cochlea, spinal ganglion cells, and angiocytes, and an effect of inhibiting occurrence of hearing loss and can be usefully used for preventing or treating hearing loss. In particular, since the oat extract is a natural product and has stability without cytotoxicity, the composition containing the oat extract as an active ingredient has a safety advantage for long-term use without side effects on the human body.