If you’re subjected to a lot of loud sound and don’t use ear protection, you might experience hearing loss down the road. Similarly, if you work on a busy factory floor and don’t use hearing protection, hearing loss might be in your future. These hearing loss causes are fairly common. But there’s a new fighter in the ring, and you can probably guess who it is: Covid-19.
That’s correct, the same illness that’s been turning the world upside down for the past couple of years may also lead to hearing loss.
Maybe? Probably? Alright, we’re still in the early stages of really understanding Covid-19. And scientists are learning something new about it every day. Some research does indicate that Covid-19 is linked to hearing loss, but that research is also somewhat early and is still waiting for more data to back it up. So where is this research currently at.
So can hearing loss be triggered by Covid-19?
So here’s the first thing to remember: The Covid-19 vaccine has never been proven to cause hearing loss. That’s true for all of the presently approved and obtainable vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna to Novovax. That just isn’t how these vaccines work, they don’t impact your ears at all. It would be like eating a nice healthy salad and then declaring that it caused your diabetes.
This is true of both the established vaccines and the new mRNA vaccines. For the majority of people, the risks are vastly exceeded by the advantages. If you have questions about vaccines, be certain to speak with your doctor, and get information from a reputable source.
Let’s talk about hearing loss now that we’ve cleared that up.
So, how does Covid trigger hearing loss?
But, how does this cause hearing loss? Specifically, how does this lead to sensorineural hearing loss, the type of hearing loss that results from damage to your auditory system and is typically permanent?
Well, there are a couple of theories. Either one of them could cause hearing loss or both together.
Theory #1: inflammation
The first substantial theory among researchers is that Covid-19 causes considerable inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, and that this inflammation can eventually affect your ears. Your ears, nose, and mouth are all connected, after all. There are a couple of ways this could trigger hearing loss:
- Fluid buildup: Inflammation can make drainage pathways smaller, making it harder for fluid to escape or drain properly. It becomes more and more difficult to hear as this fluid continues to accumulate. Once the symptoms subside, your hearing will usually return to normal (this wouldn’t be an example of sensorineural hearing loss).
- Damaged cells: It’s essential to remember that viruses replicate by hijacking your body’s own cells. This can lead to damage. In some cases, damage to the vascular links between your brain and your ears takes place because of the way Covid impacts your vascular system. This situation is sensorineural hearing loss and will be basically permanent.
When hearing loss is caused by a buildup due to inflammation, steroids can sometimes help. There’s still a continuing effort by scientists to determine a way to prevent sensorineural hearing loss. How much protection from this type of hearing loss the vaccines will provide is unclear, but it’s better than no protection.
Theory #2: Long Covid
The next theory is more substantial when it comes to patients’ experience, but a little less understood with regards to cause and effect. There’s something called Long Covid which you, by now, have probably heard about.
Long Covid is a condition in which people experience symptoms from Covid long after the actual virus has left their body. Often, a debilitating bout of long Covid that drags out for months, or longer, after having Covid itself, is experienced. There’s no doubt, Long Covid is real, but scientists are still unsure why.
Data about long-term hearing problems was systematically reviewed by scientists and a report was published in February 2021. Here’s what the review discovered:
- 14.8% reported developing tinnitus
- After getting Covid, hearing loss was reported by 7.6% of people.
- Vertigo was reported by7.2% of people
There’s certainly a connection between Long Covid and hearing problems, but it’s unknown if there’s a direct cause and effect association. Long covid seems to initiate a broad constellation of symptoms, including those that impact your hearing.
Evidence or anecdote?
When somebody talks about how they got Covid and had hearing issues ever since, that’s an anecdote. It’s only one person’s story. And while it’s a fact of life for them, it’s not really enough for researchers to go on when developing treatment plans. That’s why research is so crucial.
As scientists uncover more evidence that these hearing difficulties are fairly extensive, they’re able to establish a clearer image of the risks associated with Covid-19.
Obviously, there’s still more to understand. The link between Covid and hearing loss isn’t either proven or unproven at this time and research is continuing. It’s essential to seek help as soon as you can regardless of how your hearing loss developed. So if you think your hearing isn’t what it once was, call us to make an appointment.
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&
