COVID-19 has a few uncommon symptoms including dampening your sense of taste and smell. We know that one of the first symptoms is loss of smell. But your sense of smell and taste aren’t the only sense affected by COVID-19. New studies are uncovering an uncommon, but longer-term issue: permanent sensorineural hearing loss.
How Can COVID-19 Cause Hearing Loss?
Each day scientists are discovering more about COVID-19. But there’s still a lot we don’t know. 2019 is when the virus was first observed. Usually, scientists work for years, even decades, to completely identify a new pathogen. One thing we’re discovering about COVID is that it impacts different people in countless different ways (making it a really difficult and challenging nemesis).
There are lots of symptoms you can experience. And one of those symptoms is lasting hearing loss. Why this happens is still not evident. It may be something called “cellular stress” caused by the virus. Some cells (like the cells in your ear) will start to deteriorate, according to this hypothesis, because the virus puts so much strain on the body. But your body’s own immune response might also be responsible for this kind of hearing loss. Occasionally, your immune system can go into high gear and ends up causing significant damage to your body.
Also, when other COVID symptoms are going away, this hearing loss can still show up. Again, we’re not really sure why this happens. We are also clueless why it’s more or less likely to happen.
Can This Hearing Loss be Managed?
Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss is possible with COVID-19. Needless to say, there are countless variables, and there are some treatments, also. It’s already been discovered that early steroid treatments seem to help protect your hearing from further damage. It’s essential to see a doctor right away if you experience sudden loss of hearing.
Having a hearing exam after your COVID has passed is always a good idea.
But it’s worth noting that there are a couple of qualifiers to all of this. Hearing loss, first off, isn’t a very common COVID symptom. We don’t know yet how widespread this particular symptom is at this point. But it’s likely that the science on COVID will keep updating and changing as scientists discover more.
Can You Avoid COVID-Induced Hearing Loss?
If you have sudden changes in your hearing and you have COVID-19 get in touch with your doctor and make an appointment for a hearing test with us. Long-term hearing loss can be decreased by rapid response.
Try to remain healthy: The best way to prevent COVID-related hearing loss is to do everything possible to avoid getting COVID in the first place. This means sticking with guidelines regarding social gatherings, physical distancing, and wearing a mask.
This symptom does occur though it’s rare. And the more information you have concerning COVID and hearing loss, the better. If you think you’ve already suffered hearing damage, it’s definitely a wise decision to come in and get evaluated.
