You might develop hearing loss as you get older, especially if you frequently expose yourself to loud noise. Hearing loss might be in your future, for instance, if you work on a noisy factory floor without hearing protection. These hearing loss causes are fairly common. But there’s a new kid on the block, and you can probably guess who it is: Covid-19.
That’s correct, the same disease that’s been turning the world upside down for the last couple of years may also lead to hearing loss.
Maybe? Probably? Okay, Covid-19 is still a very novel virus. And something new about it is being uncovered constantly by scientists. There is some research which indicates 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 have a look at where things stand right now.
Does the Covid vaccine cause hearing loss?
So, let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: 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’s just not how these vaccines work, they don’t impact your ears at all. It would be like blaming your diabetes on the salad you ate for lunch.
This is true of both the conventional vaccines and the new mRNA vaccines. Which means that the advantages of these vaccines still greatly exceed the risks for the majority of individuals. Speak to your doctor and find reputable information if you have any questions about vaccines.
Let’s discuss hearing loss now that we’ve gotten that out of the way.
So, how does Covid cause hearing loss?
But, how can this cause hearing loss? Particularly, how does it cause the kind of hearing loss that is the result of damage to the auditory system which is normally permanent, known as sensorineural hearing loss?
Scientists have a couple of hypotheses. These theories, we should mention, aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. They can both be relevant!
Theory #1: inflammation
The first compelling theory among scientists 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 interconnected, after all. There are two ways this could cause hearing loss:
- Fluid buildup: Fluid has a harder time draining because inflammation has made the drainage pathways more narrow. As this fluid accumulates, it becomes harder to hear. After the symptoms subside, your hearing will normally return to normal (if this occurs, you’re not experiencing 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. In some cases, damage to the vascular connections between your brain and your ears occurs because of the way Covid impacts your vascular system. This situation is sensorineural hearing loss and will be generally irreversible.
Steroids are sometimes prescribed when hearing loss is caused by inflammation. Scientists are still searching for a way to prevent sensorineural hearing loss caused by cell damage. It’s unknown, based on this research, exactly 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 significant when it comes to patients’ experience, but a bit less understood with regards to cause and effect. By now, you’ve most likely heard about something called Long Covid.
Long Covid is a condition in which people experience symptoms from Covid well 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 lasts for months (or longer). There’s no doubt, Long Covid is real, but scientists are still unsure why.
In February of 2021, scientists published a systematic review that evaluated data about long-term auditory problems due to Covid-19. Here’s what the review discovered:
- 7.6% of individuals reported hearing loss after getting Covid.
- 7.2% of individuals reported vertigo
- 14.8% reported developing tinnitus
There’s definitely a connection between Long Covid and hearing issues, but it’s not known 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 someone talks about how they got Covid and haven’t been able to hear the same 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 necessarily enough for scientists to go on when developing treatment guidance. That’s why research is so crucial.
Researchers will be able to get a better understanding about the hazards of Covid as they obtain more data about how widespread these complications are.
We undoubtedly have to learn more. Research is ongoing, which means the link between Covid-19 and hearing loss isn’t actually proven or unproven. Regardless of how your hearing loss develops, however, it’s still important that you seek out treatment as soon as you can. So if you suspect your hearing isn’t what it used to be, 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&
