Despite the many symptoms associated with COVID-19, there has been little research on how the virus affects the hearing system. However, there is some evidence to show that COVID-19 can cause sensorineural hearing loss.
This is called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Symptoms usually develop within 72 hours of infection, so it’s important to see your doctor if you have this type of hearing loss.
- Get a Hearing Test
Hearing loss can be a very debilitating symptom. It can make it hard to hear your friends and family, to talk to doctors, and to enjoy music and other activities.
Fortunately, there are ways to fix and stop it from worsening. First, you need to determine the extent of your hearing loss and what type of treatment is right for you.
The best way to do that is to get a hearing test. An audiologist or ear, nose, and throat doctor can do that.
Your audiologist will measure how well you hear sounds and turn those into an audiogram graph. The graph will show if you have hearing loss and how much of that hearing loss is in your left or right ear.
You may also need a test called tympanometry to check how your middle ear works. Tympanometry tests the pressure in your middle ear and how well your eardrum moves when you listen to the sound.
If you have a hearing problem, your audiologist will use the audiogram and tympanometry results to find out if your hearing loss is caused by aging or something else or if it’s a result of an injury or illness. If the results of your hearing tests show you have hearing loss, your audiologist will recommend treatments and help you choose the best option for your needs.
For most adults, getting a hearing test is part of their annual health check. But if you have sudden hearing loss symptoms, such as tinnitus or hearing difficulty with talking, it’s important to get tested sooner rather than later.
In addition, your audiologist can tell you if you have a genetic predisposition for hearing problems or if you’re at higher risk of developing them due to a family history of hearing loss. If you have a predisposition to hearing loss, you’ll need to talk to a genetic counselor before you become pregnant.
Researchers at the University of Manchester in England are investigating whether COVID-19 can cause hearing loss. They think the virus could clog tiny blood vessels in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. But it’s still early in their research, so they don’t know why some people exposed to COVID-19 develop hearing loss while others don’t.
- Talk to Your Doctor
If you have experienced hearing loss after COVID-19, you must talk to your doctor. They can help you determine the extent of the hearing loss and recommend tools to fix it.
It’s important to get a hearing test right away if you experience a sudden loss of hearing. This is called sensorineural hearing loss and occurs when there’s damage to the cells that control your hearing.
Most often, it’s caused by fluid buildup in your ear or changes in the fluid. Once the fluid goes back to normal, your ears should be fine.
However, there are some cases where hearing loss is permanent. This is called sensorineural hearing loss, and it can happen even if you don’t have any other ear or nose problems.
Researchers have found that people who get COVID-19 also have a higher risk of developing this kind of hearing loss. It’s not clear why, but some think it may be because of the virus’s ability to lock onto a type of cell that lines the lungs and ears.
Those who have long-term hearing problems may want to consider getting a hearing aid, says Michaelides. They may also benefit from hearing tests and treatment for tinnitus.
Many things, including a virus or other infections, can cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss. It can occur quickly and affect only one ear, or it can happen gradually over time.
The researchers say it’s important to be aware of this side effect and report it immediately so that you can receive a steroid treatment, which is proven to help reverse hearing loss.
This is the first time hearing loss has been linked to COVID-19 in the UK, but there have been a few other cases worldwide. In one case, a 45-year-old man with asthma who developed COVID-19 symptoms became critically ill and then suffered sudden hearing loss in his left ear. He was treated with a course of steroids, which helped his hearing recover partially.
While it’s still unclear why this can happen, doctors urge people to stay out of crowds, avoid places that have poor airflow (like indoor markets and restaurants), and wash their hands often to prevent infection. They also remind people to keep a safe distance from others and wear a mask.
- Get Hearing Aids
If you find yourself suffering from hearing loss after your COVID-19 diagnosis, getting hearing aids should be a priority. This is because if you have a serious problem with hearing, your quality of life will be negatively affected. In fact, the condition can be a serious barrier to social engagements and communication with your loved ones.
Fortunately, some of the best hearing aids are now sold over the counter, with no prescription required. These devices can dramatically improve your quality of life and help you get back to enjoying the sounds around you again.
In addition to helping you hear the voices and conversations in your life, hearing aids also have the added benefit of reducing noise pollution. This can make a big difference if you live in an area with a lot of industrial or manufacturing noise.
Another important feature to look for in a hearing aid is battery life. This will determine how often you need to recharge it and how much you pay for replacement batteries.
A good battery will last for a long time and can save you money in the long run because you won’t need to buy replacements as frequently. In addition, some hearing aids have an automatic battery indicator that will alert you when it’s time to replace the device.
There are many different styles of hearing aids to choose from, and the type you need depends on your specific needs. These include ITE, CIC, and BTE models. ITE and CIC styles are the most common, but BTE styles are a good choice for people who have more severe hearing loss or those with a large ear canal.
It’s a good idea to talk to friends and family who have hearing loss before you decide which style or company you want to work with. This way, you can learn more about their personal experiences and better understand what they liked and didn’t like about the hearing aids they used.
There are a few major manufacturers of hearing aids, but it’s always best to choose one that offers a risk-free trial period and a manufacturer’s warranty. This will ensure that you’re not out any more money than necessary if the hearing aids don’t work well for you.
- Get a Tinnitus Treatment
Tinnitus is an unpleasant condition that can be caused by a range of conditions, including age-related hearing loss. It can be difficult to live with, and it can affect your mood and concentration. Some people find that it causes them to feel tense and anxious.
It can also be a sign of a serious underlying health condition, such as a brain tumor or Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, tinnitus can be treated with medications. However, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is important to rule out an underlying cause of your tinnitus.
The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and ask if there is any history of recent illness or a history of medication that could cause tinnitus. They will then physically examine your head and ears, including listening to your hearing. They might refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) or an audiologist.
If your tinnitus is related to age-related hearing loss, the doctor may recommend a hearing aid or cochlear implant. A cochlear implant can help improve your hearing by re-coding the nerve signals sent to the brain, making it easier for your brain to hear.
A hearing aid is also a good option for some people with tinnitus and no hearing impairment because it can help them hear sounds that they may not normally hear. It can also help cover up tinnitus, which makes it less noticeable.
It is important to work with an audiologist who can personalize your hearing aid to ensure it is working properly for you and helping reduce tinnitus symptoms. Some doctors use a technique called bimodal therapy to treat tinnitus by pairing sound and touch stimulation, which can change how your brain thinks about sound.
In addition, some patients have found that they can reduce tinnitus by changing the way they sleep. This includes getting enough rest, avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed, and using an anti-anxiety medication such as Valium.
Another way to treat tinnitus is to use an acoustic neural stimulator, which uses a palm-sized device and headphones to deliver a broadband acoustic signal embedded in music. It is very effective at reducing or eliminating tinnitus in some people.