Does COVID-19 cause hearing loss in people?
If you’re like most people, you’re probably exhausted by the words “COVID-19” and “coronavirus.” Since the early months of 2020, experts from all over the world have been doing their best to provide all of us recommendations on how we and our loved ones can safely navigate a global pandemic, the likes of which we haven’t seen for a century.
Unfortunately, learning about how to deal with a potentially deadly virus is incredibly difficult to do in real-time, meaning we’re all not only trying to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities safe, but we’re also dealing with a great deal of conflicting information, which understandably has made certain aspects of our lives difficult.
One set of symptoms that scientists shared with the world early on in the pandemic no doubt raised some eyebrows. Many, though not all, people who had contracted the COVID-19 virus were reporting that they had either lost their sense of taste and sense of smell, or that these senses were altered altogether.
Even more curious was how drastically different these experiences were for those afflicted. Some people lost their sense of smell entirely, only to have it return a few months later.
Some lost their sense of taste and smell. Some people faced severe dietary restrictions, due to what were once pleasant foods now tasting acrid or spoiled. Some recovered entirely, and some are still dealing with the effects of long-COVID well over a year of contracting the virus.
All this begged the question to scientific experts: Could COVID-19 also have an affect on people’s hearing?
After all, many of the effects of COVID were sensory-based. Shouldn’t a closer look be taken at other senses, like touch, vision, and hearing?
Is there a link between coronavirus and hearing loss? It’s unlikely.
Though studies are still in their infancy, experts aren’t seeing a clear link between coronavirus and hearing loss as an initial symptom of infection, research is still needed on its long-term effects.
The fact of the matter is, even nearly two years later, there simply has not been enough time, research, and analysis into the matter for experts to know for sure.
What is piquing the interest of some virologists and other medical researchers is a potential link between COVID-19 and tinnitus, as well as balance-related issues.
In an article published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), researchers observed COVID-19 patients who experienced tinnitus, vertigo, and even hearing loss after their infection. Unfortunately, the sample size was small, consisting of 10 patients in the study, making any definitive pronouncements on the connection premature.
The good news is that a connection hasn’t been confirmed. The aggravating thing is, as studies are conducted and updates are released, we have the job of navigating new information, which sometimes can be contradictory to what was once understood.
We’ll do what we’ve always done, and provide you with the best care available, based on your unique needs.
Though we’re happy to report at this time that any hard links haven’t been confirmed, we still encourage anyone who is feeling concerned about their hearing health, potential signs of tinnitus, or is experiencing feelings of dizziness or loss of balance to contact our practice for an evaluation.
Coronavirus or not, your hearing health matters, and the earlier you seek out professional intervention when you notice a change, the sooner we can assess the situation and provide you with expert recommendations for care.
In many instances, people who are experiencing signs of tinnitus or a loss of balance don’t have a hearing condition at all. It could be something as simple as an ear infection that’s been left untreated, or it could be that you have an obstruction — like a long-standing building of earwax — that is the source of your discomfort. The point is, you’ll never know until you see an expert.
Colorado Ear Care is the evolution of hearing care
We’re committed to providing you with hearing and balance care services that are simple, thorough, and personalized.
Our practice prides itself on having the most comprehensive testing available for dizziness and vestibular disorders in the entire state of Colorado. We’re not only recognized as a Center of Specialty Care by the American Institute of Balance, but we also provide testing on much of the same equipment as used by Johns Hopkins University. No other hearing care practice in our state can say the same.
We’re locally-owned, with 20 years of experience in hearing care, and have worked hard to earn a favorable reputation with our patient community and with local physicians. Our patients recommend us to their friends and family who need hearing care, and so do their primary care doctors.
If you’re concerned about your or a loved one’s hearing health, signs of tinnitus, or balance-related issues, please contact Colorado Ear Care today.
We provide thorough, accurate, and easy to understand testing, treatment for a variety of dizziness and balance difficulties, and, if hearing technology is the right option for you, you’ll be expertly fit with hearing devices available from the world’s most-respected manufacturers.
Many of these devices can be programmed to treat hearing loss and tinnitus, are Bluetooth-compatible, and are designed to keep you engaged, energized, and always hearing your best.
Don’t hesitate. Contact Colorado Ear Care today for your appointment!