Your Hearing Can Also be Impacted by COVID-19

Woman protects her hearing health by wearing a mask.

COVID-19 has some unusual symptoms like dampening your sense of taste and smell. We know that one of the first signs is loss of smell. But your sense of smell and taste aren’t the only sense impacted by COVID-19. Sensorineural hearing loss is an uncommon and lasting problem according to new studies.

How is Hearing Loss Caused by COVID-19?

Scientists are discovering more about COVID-19 each day. But we’re truly in the dark in a lot of ways. 2019 is when the virus was first discovered. New pathogens often take years or decades for scientists to identify. One thing we do know about COVID is that it impacts different individuals in many different ways (making it a really difficult and challenging problem).

You might experience a wide variety of symptoms. And one of those symptoms is irreversible hearing loss. Why this occurs is still not evident. It may be something known as “cellular stress” caused by the virus. Some cells (such as the cells in your ear) will start to deteriorate, according to this theory, because the virus places so much strain on the body. But this type of hearing loss may also be the result of your body’s own immune reaction. On occasion, your immune system can go into high gear and ends up causing considerable damage to your body.

Also, when other COVID symptoms are almost gone, this hearing loss can still become apparent. The actual timing isn’t completely known. We are also clueless why it’s more or less likely to occur.

Is There Any Treatment For This Type of Hearing Loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss from COVID-19 can definitely be permanent. There might be some treatment possibilities depending on specific variables. Actually, researchers have already recognized that steroid treatments seem to help safeguard your hearing, particularly if you get early treatment. It’s essential to see a doctor right away if you experience sudden hearing loss.

In either case, once you’ve completely recovered from your COVID-19 experience, it might be a smart plan to visit us and get a hearing examination.

But it’s worth mentioning that there are a couple of qualifiers to all of this. Hearing loss, first off, is not a very common COVID symptom. At the moment, we’re not sure how prevalent this symptom is. But as scientists learn more about COVID-19 the science will adjust.

Can You Prevent COVID-Induced Hearing Loss?

Presently, if you already have COVID, you should let us or your doctor know right away if hearing changes suddenly. Long-term hearing loss can be decreased by rapid response.

Try to prevent getting sick: The best way to protect against COVID-related hearing loss is to do everything possible to steer clear of getting COVID in the first place. This means sticking with guidelines regarding social gatherings, physical distancing, and wearing a mask.

This symptom does happen though it’s rare. And you will be a lot better off with more knowledge about hearing loss and COIVID. It’s a good idea to come in for an evaluation if you think you have suffered hearing damage.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.