You might develop hearing loss as you get older, especially if you regularly expose yourself to loud noise. Similarly, if you work on a busy factory floor and don’t use hearing protection, hearing loss might be in your future. These are fairly common and widely known causes of hearing loss. But within the past few years, a new cause has surfaced. Yup, you guessed it, 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? Okay, Covid-19 is still a very new virus. And scientists are learning something new about it all the time. Some research does indicate that Covid-19 is linked to hearing loss, but that research is also rather preliminary and is still waiting for more data to back it up. So let’s take a look at where things stand currently.
Does the Covid vaccine cause hearing loss?
So, let’s get this off the table right away: The Covid-19 vaccine has never been proven to cause hearing loss. That’s true for all of the presently approved and available vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna to Novovax. Vaccines don’t impact your ears, they just don’t work that way. It would be like blaming your diabetes on the salad you ate for dinner.
This applies to the brand new mRNA vaccines and the more established ones. For the majority of people, the risks are vastly outweighed by the benefits. Talk to your doctor and find reputable information if you have any questions about vaccines.
Okay… with that off the table, let’s discuss hearing loss.
So how is hearing loss caused by Covid?
So how is hearing loss caused by this? Specifically, how does it trigger the type of hearing loss that is the result of damage to the auditory system which is usually permanent, known as sensorineural hearing loss?
Scientists have a couple of theories. These theories, we should mention, aren’t always mutually exclusive. They can both be true!
Theory #1: inflammation
Covid-19 causes inflammation in your upper respiratory tract, and the idea is that this inflammation eventually impacts your ears. Your ears, nose, and mouth are all connected, after all. This may cause hearing loss in a couple of ways:
- Fluid buildup: Fluid has a harder time draining because inflammation has made the drainage channels more narrow. As this fluid accumulates, it becomes harder to hear. Once the symptoms subside, your hearing will usually return to normal (if this takes place, you’re not dealing with sensorineural hearing loss).
- Damaged cells: It’s essential to remember that viruses replicate by hijacking your body’s own cells. This can result in damage. And because Covid impacts your vascular system, this can sometimes result in damage to the vascular connections between your brain and your ears. This would be considered sensorineural hearing loss, and would likely be essentially permanent.
Steroids are occasionally prescribed when hearing loss is a result of inflammation. Researchers are still looking for a way to prevent sensorineural hearing loss caused by cell damage. It’s unclear, based on this research, just how much protection vaccines give you against this type of damage, but it’s safe to say it’s better than no protection.
Theory #2: Long Covid
The next hypothesis is more significant when it comes to patients’ experience, but a bit less comprehended with regards to cause and effect. By now, you’ve probably heard about something called Long Covid.
Patients will go through symptoms of Covid when they are experiencing Long Covid, long after they have recovered from the actual virus. Often, a debilitating bout of long Covid that drags out for months, or longer, after having Covid itself, is experienced. 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. The review found that:
- After getting Covid, hearing loss was reported by 7.6% of individuals.
- 14.8% reported experiencing tinnitus
- Vertigo was reported by7.2% of people
Whether these auditory difficulties are caused by Long Covid or just associated with it isn’t really clear, but it’s safe to say there’s a relationship of some kind. A host of symptoms, including hearing issues, come from Long Covid.
Anecdote or evidence?
It’s anecdotal when someone says that their hearing hasn’t been the same since they got Covid. It’s only one person’s story. When researchers are attempting to come up with a treatment plan, these individual accounts, while they are part of everyday life for the individuals, aren’t enough for scientists to go on. So research is key here.
Scientists will be able to get a clearer understanding about the hazards of Covid as they accumulate more information about how widespread these difficulties are.
We undoubtedly have to learn more. Research is continuing, which means the link between Covid-19 and hearing loss isn’t actually proven or unproven. It’s essential to seek help as soon as possible regardless of how your hearing loss developed. So give us a call if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss.
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&
