Hearing loss after COVID

@heatnor You are unsettled by the sudden partial hearing loss and worried the effects may be residual long after you have recovered from the virus.

The world’s scientists are scrambling to understand Covid-19, as it is a new virus. I have provided you will links that discuss sudden hearing loss and Covid-19. From what I could gather, sudden hearing loss is a rare residual side effect of a Covid-19 infection.

As I mentioned above, Covid-19 is a new virus that we have little understanding of. My links below range from random sites discussing the topic to heavy reads like journal articles. There simply just isn’t enough data out there so we must make do with what we have.

In the journal article from the U.K. titled, Sudden irreversible hearing loss post COVID-19, the article states that immediate steroid treatment of the hearing loss is thought to lead to the best prognosis. I hope that this information gives you comfort in that your provider is likely treating you according.

- Mayo Clinic Covid-19 https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19

- COVID-19 and hearing loss: What we know https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/53127-Coronavirus-hearing-loss-tinnitus-covid

- Acute profound sensorineural Hearing Loss after Covid-19 pneumonia https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30596-6/pdf

- COVID-19 linked to sudden hearing loss https://www.livescience.com/covid-19-linked-to-sudden-hearing-loss.html

- COVID -19 and sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a case report https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7342036/

- Is Hearing Loss Another Unusual Symptom of COVID-19? https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/hearing-loss-coronavirus.html

- Sudden irreversible hearing loss post COVID-19 https://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/11/e238419

You will notice that I have added this discussion to the Covid-19 group. I did this so you can connect with members like @ccbelle @astaingegerdm @lmspencerpac @sueinmn, who have discussed this topic in the past.

Mayo Connect also has a Covid-19 group
- Covid-19 Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/

I did not find a previous discussion specifically regarding hearing loss and Covid-19 but I did find a discussion titled, COVID-19 Long Haulers: Symptoms lasting 30 days plus. You may find this helpful.

- COVID-19 Long Haulers: Symptoms lasting 30 days plus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-symptoms-lasting-30-days-plus/

I would like to extend my Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, as Sue has.

May I ask what you provider's prognosis is?

Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a community of people living with a variety of conditions, who strive to support one another with encouragement, tales of our own journeys, and links to the best known research and information sources.

As Erika shared, more is known each day about the prolonged effects of Covid-19 , and she pointed to those which specifically address hearing. At this point it is not known whether the hearing loss will be permanent, but for inflammatory causes, which Covid seems to be, a course of steroid treatment is standard. Some losses have been reversed, some improved, some not.

It is worthwhile to note that in the pre-vaccine past, viruses like measles, rubella and scarlet fever were known to cause hearing loss. Back then, it was not known that the cause was viral inflammation in the ear and there was no intervention with steroids, so the loss often became permanent. So if I were in your situation, I would definitely try the steroids.
Good luck - be sure to let us know how things go for you.
Sue

Here is some information from The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) http://www.hearingloss.org HLAA is a great resource. You may want to check on Facebook also because you will be able to ask this question there. I hope this helps you.

Found this on sudden hearing loss from the website - link to article not related to covid, nothing yet on website:

We saw this article re: COVID and hearing loss: https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/man-reportedly-loses-hearing-in-one-ear-after-contracting-covid-19/
Here are the links the webinars:
https://www.hearingloss.org/programs-events/webinars/schedule-recordings/

This COVID virus is a powerful bug and will invade the brain. Follow all of the advice out there. Read every bit of information that you can because this COVID- 19 and COVID -21 that's coming now will do havoc in your ears/cochlear, heart, and other vital organs and anywhere where it can find a good place to hide. It was created to do that once it found the human bodies around the world. Don't put off any type of treatment for sudden hearing loss. Work with your physicians and audiologist closely and journal your walk so they can monitor all of this as we move forward during these strange times.

I too have severe/profound hearing loss! A couple years ago I had bronchitis and the coughing that came along with it did affect my hearing for the worse. Doc gave me steroids, I am thankful he did because about a month later my newly loss of hearing returned. I got a taste of being almost completely deaf, even with my aids on.

thank you so much!

This is very helpful to know, thank you for responding. I am starting the steroids today and I certainly hope it goes back.

Erika, my doctor recommended the steroids for now. Thank you for connecting me with the COVID-19 groups because although I was basically asymptomatic for COVID, this was the one thing that happened just a day or two before my positive test. I have no history of hearing loss. I am trying sound therapy as well but its incredibly frightening to think that this could be a long term effect from the virus. I will definitely journal this in case I can help with any studies out there.

Yes! I too experience hearing loss in my right ear. I tested positive October 28, 2020 and it hasnt gotten any better. Everything sounds muffled like my ear is clogged or I’m underwater. I put peroxide in it but that didn’t help. I have absolutely no taste or smell so I’m hoping it’s all a part of that upper viral infection, the hearing loss. On A percentage scale, I’d say I’ve lost 50% of my hearing in my right ear. I have to turn my TV volume all the way up to 10 and it’s still not loud enough. I bet my neighbors love me. LOL! Let me know if your hearing improves. I haven’t been to the ear doctor yet but if this progresses I’ll have no choice but to go. I understand it is a rare symptom from the virus. Good luck to you:))

The November issue of The Hearing Journal, a professional publication about hearing healthcare, discusses this issue and indicates that hearing loss is not an uncommon side effect of COVID19. However, it's too early for research statistics. Ototoxic drugs that may be used for treatment are mentioned as a possible problem. There are some relatively common antibiotics that can cause hearing loss. While these may not be prescribed for COVID19, they may be prescribed for symptoms that may be present with a mild form of the virus. There's a link in the article to a podcast if anyone is interested in checking it out. bit.ly/HJpodcast2020