Can COVID-19 Increase My Chances Of Hearing Loss?

There is a lot about COVID-19 that we don’t understand now. COVID-19 can cause many issues when a person is sick with the virus. It can even cause issues after a person has gotten better. Most of the symptoms with this virus affect the respiratory tract. But, people can also experience long term problems with other areas of their body.

Long Term Effects

There have already been studies conducted on patients with COVID-19. Some of this research has made a difference in how we treat, prevent, and understand COVID-19. For example, one study had 214 patients that tested positive for the virus. They had a many different symptoms. Plus, their respiratory symptoms varied in severity. Over 36% of these patients went on to have some form of neurologic issues. These affected the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and skeletal muscles. Some of this points to potential damage of the inner ear that could lead to hearing loss.

Pre-Existing Conditions

COVID-19 will affect people who have pre-existing health conditions. There are many healthy people that have had to use ventilators and equipment to keep them alive. The American Tinnitus Association has found an interesting connection. Those who have hearing loss or tinnitus could worsen their hearing issues. There could also be an increase because of the stress of the pandemic.

Ototoxicity

Illness or other medical situation can put the ear at risk of ototoxicity. This occurs where the nerve supply to the ear becomes damaged. This is a common form of hearing loss. COVID-19 can affect hearing in this manner. But, there is also a risk of ototoxicity from certain medications treating the virus. Hydroxychloroquine is one of the safer medications used for COVID-19. Still, some of the other malaria drugs could pose a higher risk.

Health specialists are paying close attention to this part of the pandemic. There are some challenges with examining and treating patients who have hearing loss. This is due to safety. They want to protect their staff and the patient. Patients who are not currently sick should continue with their appointments. This is to make sure that their hearing and health are okay. You can contact Beltone Chicago for more information about your hearing health.