1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Long COVID-hearing loss and tinnitus

Posted by jeindc @jeindc, Oct 20, 2024

Cross-posting this to the long/post COVID group and the ENT group. This article tells more tho' not yet enough. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10072149/

-Had COVID in late March/early April 2023. Had immediate symptoms not related to ENT tho' those came within 1 month.
-Because I was dealing with more immediate health issues that came with COVID, I'd not seen an ENT until Oct. 2024.
-Never before had I had tinnitus - and it's worsened with, now, 'music' that I have read 'fills spaces' when there is hearing loss, can be "musical hallucinations" caused by an infection, stress, depression, and more.
-The music is NOT earworms - it is not music I'd choose. z
-The non-music tinnitus varies (children playing - we don't live near a playground or school, whooshing which I understand is common, birds, what sounds like a radio broadcast where I "hear" a voice but not words,) and a new one - a popping sound in my left ear has become particularly annoying. (It woke me up multiple times this past week thinking someone had broken in or the cat was doing something odd!) Of course it started after the ENT and full audiology work-up.
-My hearing, which was fine judging by the lack of need for captions on TV until I got COVID. Now, without captions on most shows, I can't hear. Headphones for Zoom work and I've no problem.
-Now significant hearing loss that I need to be fitted for hearing aids - tho' a colleague who works in disability issues and was part of a recent conference said they learned Apple AirPods Pro are considered a great less expensive alternative. Ordered and waiting to try.

It is annoying and clearly connected or the timing is just odd. Posting mainly to post the article. Also hoping to find others since the area's one long COVID specialist seems to have dismissed me after a diagnosis of one issue and no interest in investigating others. (I'd be such a good subject for research.)

Thanks.

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jeindc | @jeindc | Oct 27, 2024
In reply to @mamabare "I had Covid in august. Prior to that my hearing loss was 40 something. A few..." + (show)
@mamabare

I had Covid in august. Prior to that my hearing loss was 40 something. A few weeks later one ear went down to 70% or worse, the ent wanted to,place tubes in the ears Then went to my pcp who recommended Flonase and Claritin to see if it helps.. it did take away the stuffy head and ear popping but there is still a hearing loss. To be tested again next month to compare.

Jump to this post

Hoping your results are better. I've been on antibiotics and prednisone to 'decongest' tho' the popping started after that and after the audiology work-up. It's discouraging. Today, for the first time, I had different sounds in each ear. I wish they'd harmonize but they didn't!

REPLY
paulguinzburg | @paulguinzburg | May 5 7:17pm

I, too, had COVID in 2022. No immediate side effects.
But, starting in 2024, I became aware of tinnitus. The sounds are mostly coming and going. Usually, I hear the sound of the crowds outside my bedroom window. I'm in a ground-floor apartment with a large parking lot outside, but without any traffic. And without any crowds. I wear hearing aids, but the sounds continue at the same level when I take them out. As all the specialists have told me, they don't come in through these ears.

My hearing has continued to deteriorate, and I must increase the volume to hear conversations. I still miss some of it. I'm using a pair of 4-year-old Oticon ON hearing aids (the cost was $6,200). I've looked at many of the newer aids, which don't require a prescription, but they are virtually useless. My hearing has deteriorated so badly.

Back to my Audiologist on Friday to reprogram the Oticons.

REPLY
2 replies
missyq | @missyq | May 6 2:10pm
In reply to @paulguinzburg "I, too, had COVID in 2022. No immediate side effects. But, starting in 2024, I became..." + (show)
@paulguinzburg

I, too, had COVID in 2022. No immediate side effects.
But, starting in 2024, I became aware of tinnitus. The sounds are mostly coming and going. Usually, I hear the sound of the crowds outside my bedroom window. I'm in a ground-floor apartment with a large parking lot outside, but without any traffic. And without any crowds. I wear hearing aids, but the sounds continue at the same level when I take them out. As all the specialists have told me, they don't come in through these ears.

My hearing has continued to deteriorate, and I must increase the volume to hear conversations. I still miss some of it. I'm using a pair of 4-year-old Oticon ON hearing aids (the cost was $6,200). I've looked at many of the newer aids, which don't require a prescription, but they are virtually useless. My hearing has deteriorated so badly.

Back to my Audiologist on Friday to reprogram the Oticons.

Jump to this post

I understand your frustration. My husband also developed tinnitus after Covid. It is a known side effect of the vaccinations. I’ve had it for many years now, it’s very loud, it’s constant, so you just have to find ways to either tune it out or get used to it, to be frank. I recommend Binaural Beats and white noise if it really gets to you.

REPLY
2 replies
willows | @willows | May 7 4:51am

I have had a total of 5 Covid vaccinations over the years as well as Covid this year. My tinnitus predates Covid things but I didn’t notice it getting worse. What does really make it worse is stress.

REPLY
paulguinzburg | @paulguinzburg | May 7 8:46am
In reply to @missyq "I understand your frustration. My husband also developed tinnitus after Covid. It is a known side..." + (show)
@missyq

I understand your frustration. My husband also developed tinnitus after Covid. It is a known side effect of the vaccinations. I’ve had it for many years now, it’s very loud, it’s constant, so you just have to find ways to either tune it out or get used to it, to be frank. I recommend Binaural Beats and white noise if it really gets to you.

Jump to this post

I have found that Melatonin helps - 2 1.5mg 30 minutes before bedtime (10:00 for me). Then, if necessary, another at about midnight, and if still not effective, another an hour later. Warning message - do not take within 3 hours of driving or making important decisions.

REPLY
jeindc | @jeindc | May 7 10:00am
In reply to @paulguinzburg "I, too, had COVID in 2022. No immediate side effects. But, starting in 2024, I became..." + (show)
@paulguinzburg

I, too, had COVID in 2022. No immediate side effects.
But, starting in 2024, I became aware of tinnitus. The sounds are mostly coming and going. Usually, I hear the sound of the crowds outside my bedroom window. I'm in a ground-floor apartment with a large parking lot outside, but without any traffic. And without any crowds. I wear hearing aids, but the sounds continue at the same level when I take them out. As all the specialists have told me, they don't come in through these ears.

My hearing has continued to deteriorate, and I must increase the volume to hear conversations. I still miss some of it. I'm using a pair of 4-year-old Oticon ON hearing aids (the cost was $6,200). I've looked at many of the newer aids, which don't require a prescription, but they are virtually useless. My hearing has deteriorated so badly.

Back to my Audiologist on Friday to reprogram the Oticons.

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@paulguinzburg - When I first developed tinnitus (fall of 2024; COVID late March 2023), I did lots of reading - I have "regular" - the whooshing or like sounds - and musical which is both amusing and annoying. It is, simply said from my reading and an ENT and a hearing specialist - "in our heads" - not as in 'imaginary", rather to fill space that can no longer hear. I remember when my mom got it - it preceded her hearing loss.

After the ENT did a hearing test and said I needed hearing aids, I did more research. If you are ANYwhere near a COSTCO, and if not a member, join (I think it was $60) - and they do comprehensive free hearing tests. It was far better than the doctor did. In every way. AND the hearing aids (I got Phillips) are great; there are other types, Jabra the most often mentioned by friends - they allow me to adjust from my iphone or on them. I just have to remember to put them on/in every day and after just 4 months, I'm doing better remembering.

They do NOT remove tinnitus/musical tinnitus. In or out, I have it. Sometimes I can ignore it; other times the musical is so loud, it makes me nuts. As of today, at 78, I've closed my business and hope to do more research into tinnitus because I'm curious. The musical is fascinating - how my brain 'decides' what I hear and when is so interesting. I call them my "channels" as if they are radio stations!

Back to cost and helping you hear - if your ENT hasn't helped, please try COSTCO. I was so very very pleased. They have good trial periods w/ no obligation, warranties, etc.

Let us know how you do. This is a journey none of us wanted is it?

Joan

REPLY
jeindc | @jeindc | May 7 10:05am
In reply to @missyq "I understand your frustration. My husband also developed tinnitus after Covid. It is a known side..." + (show)
@missyq

I understand your frustration. My husband also developed tinnitus after Covid. It is a known side effect of the vaccinations. I’ve had it for many years now, it’s very loud, it’s constant, so you just have to find ways to either tune it out or get used to it, to be frank. I recommend Binaural Beats and white noise if it really gets to you.

Jump to this post

When I read this yesterday, @missyq , I was interested and did some research. The research is very divided on tinnitus and vaccinations. Because tinnitus is nerve related, it could be from many causes. I've found, in my early reading and from my mom's experience, it was a precursor to hearing loss - that it 'fills space' that would've been what you were hearing.

My COVID vaccinations began in the Spring of 2021. I did not develop tinnitus and musical tinnitus until after having COVID in late March 2023. The 'musical' is far more annoying and the pitch louder than I'd like. What's toughest is that bec now w/ hearing aids, the tinnitus is like having a white noise machine in my head and I don't hear our cat when she wants attention in the early morning.

Wishing you and your husband well.
JE

I manage the 'regular' tinnitus - the whooshing

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