New Study Shows Link Between COVID-19, Hearing Loss & Tinnitus

Since the arrival of COVID-19 in our world, we have stayed constantly adapting and learning how to live amongst this new threat. Experts are still trying to understand exactly how this virus works while we continue to learn how to navigate our lives with constant updates. For now, we know that COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus, however, we are still trying to understand the long-term repercussions. Some of the symptoms when the virus is new include coughing, fever, exhaustion, and loss of smell, however, we are still discovering long-term effects of the virus which seem to affect people in different ways. 

What is “Long COVID”?

The acute effects of COVID-19 last around two weeks post-infection, but the long-term symptoms – referred to as long COVID, can include damage to the lungs, heart, neurological system, kidneys, liver, and other organs after the initial infection has passed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded some of the long-term effects most prominent after COVID-19 infection as severe asthma and diabetes. This is alarming because for many these symptoms were not present at all. This raises awareness around the danger and prevention of the disease which has turned people worldwide from health individuals into people who live comorbidities. 

Tinnitus and Long COVID

One long-term effect that researchers have discovered after the initial effects of COVID-19 have subsided is of particular interest to us as hearing health care professionals. There has been some recorded evidence of tinnitus, which seems to become more present after the initial effect of COVID-19. 

Understanding Tinnitus

Tinnitus is often described as a ringing, buzzing, whoosh, roar, or hum in the ears, which has no external source. About 90% of those living with tinnitus also have hearing loss, though the two conditions don’t exclusively exist together. Experts believe that tinnitus is caused by damage to the fragile cells of the inner ear which transmit sound from the ears to the brain. These cells are damaged by many factors including old age, infection, noise, exposure to chemicals and head impact. When damage occurs, it is believed that these cells misfire, causing feedback that manifests as the chronic effects of tinnitus.

The Effects of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a very common condition affecting around 15% of the population in the US.  While tinnitus doesn’t seem to initially negatively affect people’s health, it can cause frustration, annoyance and stress. If tinnitus occurs every not and then it may not seem like an issue. However, 20 million people are thought to suffer from bothersome chronic tinnitus while 2 million report suffering from tinnitus so severe that it interferes with daily activity. It can cause issues with sleeplessness, anxiety, and inability to focus during the day.

Connecting COVID-19 and Tinnitus 

One cause of hearing damage and tinnitus is chronic or unaddressed ear infections. It is not uncommon for a virus to cause tinnitus, as it affects the Eustachian tube, which connects the ears, nose, and throat. When a virus, such as COVID-19 inflames the eustachian tube, it is believed that it can become severe enough to cause increased instances of tinnitus.

Kevin Munro, an audiology professor at the University of Manchester explains “We already know that viruses like measles, mumps, and meningitis can cause hearing loss,” Munro explains,” Coronaviruses can harm the nerves that send and receive information from the brain.” 

Another aspect connecting the two conditions may be the stress which COVID-19 brings to people. Dealing with an infection responsibly requires the patient to self-isolate and skip work which can easily lead to depression and increased anxiety. Stress and anxiety increase the perceived effect of tinnitus, making a preexisting case of tinnitus suddenly seem much worse.

How to manage your tinnitus

While there is not a cure for tinnitus, most experts seek to address the reaction to tinnitus, to minimize its stress, or to cover it up so it is a less bothersome noise. Many have found that meditation, exercise, and therapy are effective ways to draw away from the stress which tinnitus causes and reduce symptoms. If you have survived COVID-19 and are dealing with lasting tinnitus, we can help you address it. Because hearing loss and tinnitus are frequently diagnosed together, many find that treating hearing loss can also minimize the effects of tinnitus. Schedule a hearing exam today and we can help you deal with issues with tinnitus as well.