One of the most unusual symptoms of COVID-19 is that it’s able to temporarily dampen your senses of smell and taste. Indeed, loss of smell is often one of the first signs of infection. But COVID-19 affects more than just your sense of taste and smell. New discoveries are pointing to an unusual, but longer-term issue: permanent sensorineural hearing loss.
How Can COVID-19 Result In Hearing Loss?
Scientists are discovering more about COVID-19 each day. But there’s still a lot we don’t know. 2019 is when the virus was first observed. Normally, scientists work for years, if not decades, to fully describe a new pathogen. And COVIC-19 is especially challenging because it impacts different individuals in different ways.
There are a wide variety of symptoms you can suffer from. And irreversible hearing loss is sometimes one of them. Why this occurs is still not evident. It could be something known as “cellular stress” caused by the virus. Some cells (like the cells in your ear) will begin to breakdown, according to this theory, because the virus puts so much strain on the body. But your body’s own immune response could also be responsible for this type of hearing loss. Significant damage can be done to your body when your immune system overcompensates.
Also, when other COVID symptoms are almost gone, this hearing loss can still become apparent. The exact timing isn’t precisely known. We are also clueless why it’s more or less likely to occur.
Can This Hearing Loss be Managed?
Sensorineural hearing loss caused by COVID-19 can indeed be permanent. There may be a few treatment options depending on specific variables. As a matter of fact, researchers have noticed already that steroid treatments appear to help preserve your hearing, especially if you get early treatment. It’s essential to see a doctor right away if you experience sudden hearing loss.
Either way, once you’ve totally recovered from your COVID-19 situation, it may be a smart move to visit us and get a hearing test.
But it’s worth noting that there are a few qualifiers to all of this. Hearing loss, first off, isn’t a very common COVID symptom. At the moment, we’re not certain how common this symptom is. But as scientists learn more about COVID-19 the science will change.
Can COVID Induced Hearing Loss be Prevented?
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 exam with us. An early response might help lessen long-term hearing loss.
Try to avoid getting sick: Safeguarding yourself from contracting COVID-19 is the best way to avoid this kind of hearing loss. So when it comes to things such as social distancing, social gatherings, and wearing a mask, follow the guidelines.
While this particular symptom isn’t common, it still happens. And the more insight you have about COVID and hearing loss, the better. It’s a good idea to come in for an assessment if you think you have suffered hearing damage.