You might develop hearing loss as you get older, particularly if you regularly expose yourself to loud noise. Likewise, if you work on a busy factory floor and don’t use hearing protection, hearing loss may be in your future. These hearing loss causes are fairly common. But there’s a new fighter in the ring, and you can most likely guess who it is: Covid-19.
People across the world have been ravaged by all of the numerous symptoms and side-effects of Covid-19, and that may include problems with hearing.
Maybe? Probably? Alright, we’re still in the early stages of actually understanding Covid-19. And something new about it is being uncovered constantly by scientists. There is some research which suggests that hearing loss may be a potential side effect of Covid-19, but more research still needs to be done to back this up. So let’s take a look at where things stand at the moment.
Does the Covid vaccine trigger hearing loss?
So here’s the first thing to keep in mind: The Covid-19 vaccine has never been confirmed to cause hearing loss. All of the presently approved vaccines have this in common. Vaccines don’t affect your ears, they just don’t work like that. It would be like blaming your diabetes on the salad you had for lunch.
This is true of both the conventional vaccines and the new mRNA vaccines. Which means that the advantages of these vaccines still vastly outweigh the risks for the majority of individuals. Talk with your doctor and find reputable information if you have any questions about vaccines.
Okay… with that out of the way, let’s discuss hearing loss.
So, how can Covid trigger hearing loss?
So how is hearing loss triggered by this? Particularly, how does it trigger the kind of hearing loss that is the result of damage to the auditory system which is normally irreversible, known as sensorineural hearing loss?
Scientists have a couple of theories. Either one of them could cause hearing loss or both together.
Theory #1: inflammation
Covid-19 creates inflammation in your upper respiratory tract, and the idea is that this inflammation eventually affects your ears. Your ears, nose, and mouth are all connected, after all. There are two ways this might lead to hearing loss:
- Fluid buildup: Inflammation can make drainage channels smaller, making it harder for fluid to escape or drain efficiently. As this fluid accumulates, it becomes harder to hear. After the symptoms clear up, your hearing will typically return to normal (this wouldn’t be an instance of sensorineural hearing loss).
- Damaged cells: Keep in mind that viruses utilize your body’s own cells to reproduce. This can lead to damage. And because Covid impacts your vascular system, this can in some cases result in damage to the vascular links between your ears and your brain. This would be considered sensorineural hearing loss, and would most likely be essentially permanent.
When hearing loss is caused by a buildup due to inflammation, steroids can sometimes be helpful. Researchers are still searching for a way to prevent sensorineural hearing loss due to cell damage. It’s unclear, based on this research, just how much protection vaccines give you against this sort of damage, but it’s safe to say it’s better than no protection.
Theory #2: Long Covid
The next theory is more substantial in regards to patients’ experience, but a bit less understood in terms of cause and effect. By now, you’ve probably heard about something called Long Covid.
Long Covid is a condition in which individuals experience symptoms from Covid long after the actual virus has left their body. Sometimes, people will experience a minor bout of Covid followed by a debilitating Long Covid experience that drags on for months (or longer). Scientists are still unsure exactly what causes Long Covid, but there’s no denying it’s a real thing.
Data about long-term hearing complications was systematically reviewed by researchers and a report was published in February 2021. Here’s what the review found:
- 7.2% of people reported vertigo
- 7.6% of people reported hearing loss after getting Covid.
- Tinnitus was reported by 14.8%
Whether these auditory complications are caused by Long Covid or just associated with it isn’t entirely clear, but it goes without saying there’s a relationship of some kind. Long covid seems to cause a broad constellation of symptoms, including those that impact your hearing.
Anecdote or evidence?
It’s anecdotal when somebody says that their hearing hasn’t been the same since they got Covid. It’s one single narrative. When scientists are attempting to devise a treatment strategy, these personal stories, while they are part of day-to-day life for the individuals, aren’t enough for scientists to go on. That’s why research is so crucial.
As scientists uncover more evidence that these hearing difficulties are fairly prevalent, they’re able to establish a clearer understanding of the hazards related to Covid-19.
Of course, there’s still more to learn. The connection between Covid and hearing loss isn’t either proven or unproven at this point and research is ongoing. No matter how your hearing loss develops, however, it’s still crucial that you seek treatment as soon as you can. So if you think your hearing isn’t what it used to be, contact us to schedule an appointment.
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References
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.883749/full
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793?journalCode=iija20&