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Has anyone had severe nonstop ringing in ears after COVID?
I’m posting on behalf of someone very close to me, Maurice, who has been dealing with severe and persistent health problems following COVID.
His condition has significantly affected his quality of life, and despite seeing multiple doctors, specialists, undergoing extensive testing, and trying different approaches, we still have not been able to find an effective treatment or a clear explanation for why his symptoms have continued.
Some of his symptoms are extremely intense and persistent, particularly neurological and balance-related symptoms, along with other physical symptoms that began or became significantly worse after COVID. At times, the severity has been overwhelming and has made normal daily life very difficult.
We are now trying to connect with other people who may have experienced a similar post-COVID condition.
Has anyone here experienced severe, persistent neurological or vestibular symptoms after COVID that lasted for years? If so, were you eventually able to identify what was causing them or find a treatment that significantly improved your symptoms?
We would especially appreciate hearing about specialists, Long COVID programs, testing, medications, or other treatments that genuinely helped you.
Even if your symptoms were not exactly the same, I would be very grateful to hear about your experience and what finally made a difference for you.
Thank you so much to anyone willing to share.
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I didn’t really look. It’s only in one ear so far and I do t want to take any chances in case there are any mistakes.
@mstv1
I had a low level of tinnitus before COVID, but, like my vision, it has become much more severe post-COVID.
I need to clarify. I was given a sample set of top-of-the-line advanced technology hearing aids to try while at my hearing test appointment to see what the possible benefits could be were I to pursue getting hearing aids. After having them placed, besides my hearing becoming amazingly clear, I noticed my tinnitus had disappeared. When I mentioned that to the doc, she explained that hearing aids are used to treat tinnitus.
Hearing aids are typically not covered by insurance and run between $2000 to $5000 out of pocket depending on the grade. The really inexpensive ones you see advertised for a few hundred dollars are merely amplifiers and do not utilize the advanced technology used to tune the aids to specific needs in both ears of the aids my doc discussed and trialed with me during my appointment. (Meaning, it is likely you would not experience the same improvement I experienced in-office. And probably not worth even the low cost. You get what you pay for, kind of thing…)
We all have to count our pennies when considering what treatments of our Long COVID symptoms we want to pursue. It’s good to know what I do now about hearing aids and what they can do for me. At this point, though, hearing is secondary to the dizziness/imbalance, chronic fatigue and brain fog, the primary symptoms for which I was awarded SSDI Federal Disability. I am currently in-process with Medicare for pre-authorization of Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatments, also typically not covered by insurance. [At my pain management clinic, cost is $500 per side for initial injections, $250 per injection thereafter. Insurance coverage would be very nice if I could get it!] SGB, usually multiple treatments, has been successful for many folks in greatly improving multiple Long COVID symptoms. My doctor who recommended SGB, said he has several patients who claim “they got their life back” because of SGB.
Anyway, that is the scoop. I hope this information is helpful. Ask your PCP for a referral to audiology to see if hearing aids might be a solution for severe “fire alarm” tinnitus. I wish you and all here the best in finding what you need to get to a better place where you can fully enjoy life. (Again.)
Blessings!
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1 Reaction@mstv1 I didn’t say either. My low sodium is due to an ent that had me do a low sodium diet after a procedure that might help with tinnitus. The procedure didn’t help. Read about tinnitus on reputable websites. Also ata.com has good information. Be weary of quick fix or supposed cure on phony websites. There isn’t one, unfortunately. I’ve had since the end of 2025. Some days are unbearable and others tolerable depending on the sound. Hope this helps some.
Yes! I was able to see an incredible audiologist in Milwaukee named Anne Smith.
As others have said it’s important to get a medical option due to the different causes.
She was able to identify some middle ear damage and said that mine is likely a mix of my brain trying to make up those missing sounds mixed with neurological issues that come with long covid.
She provided a lot of information to help, but the following was what worked for me. It takes time and practice. Mine hasn’t gone away, but it’s gotten better with time and is easier to live with:
1. Getting news from the doctor that it’s not dangerous helped me tremendously.
2. Mindfullness of any kind.
3. Building acceptance as wild as that sounds. Telling myself to be okay with it.
4. Distraction- focusing on another sound like a fan or music helps or an activity as distraction. Whatever they can tolerate. The key is to not listen to “make it go away” but just to redirect yourself.
5. Not “checking in” for the noise. The more I tried to let it be the better it got. Also, the less I tried to push away or solve the problem!
6. If there are triggers be careful to adapt to them. For me, the house of the dishwasher made it worse to the point I was avoiding the dishwasher and that was causing more stress that made it worse, so I slowly adapted and built tolerance to the noise (for example, run the dishwasher but be in another room, then be okay being I. The room short times, and eventually the dishwasher stopped making it worse)
Hi I got sudden onset tinnitus after my first vaccine. Never experienced it before but it is now a permanent part of my life. The only thing I can think of is its ongoing inflammation. I now have PVS, Lupus SLE, Sjogren’s Disease, MCAS and POTS. So the tinnitus might be a symptom of one of these diseases 🤷♀️
It is definitely an annoying symptom 😭
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1 ReactionAfter Sept 2023 covid attack, I lost most hearing both ears and have constant vestibular imbalance. Not spinning vertigo. ENT folks and neurologists resist diagnosis and I am waiting for Long Covid specialist. Good luck with fatigue and bobblehead.
I have had ringing in my ears for since getting Covid in late 2023. Have long covid still. I saw an ENT for it, was checked out. My hearing turns out to be exceptionally good. My Tinnitus or ringing in ears, he just said we don't know why it happens and nothing we can do about it. I have learned to live with it and the more ignore it the less lt bothers me. For me, it's the least my problems from long covid. Not making light of it at all, having long covid is frustrating, debilitating and something many medical professionals and friends/family don't even believe is real or that we are exaggerating. I too would say careful on the NSAIDS, I was told by gastroenterologist to never take them again, I had created problems in my gut that mimic Celiac but is not. Created a lot of food sensitivities from taking these many years ago and never quite healed.
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1 Reaction@shirljk I’ve had since the end of 2025. Worst thing ever and no cure. Every day the noise is different. ENT definitely can’t help. It’s in the brain. Was told to eat a low sodium diet which dropped my sodium level to below normal. Supposedly sodium can cause inflammation. So what is a person to do? Can be dangerous to be below normal. Any website online that claims they have a cure is bogus! Be ware. Some days worse than others. Do research on reputable websites. ATA.org has information and research being done.
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1 ReactionMe too.
Nothing has worked. So discouraging!!