One of the most unusual symptoms of COVID-19 is that it’s able to temporarily dampen your senses of smell and taste. We recognize that one of the first signs is loss of smell. But your sense of smell and taste aren’t the only sense affected by COVID-19. Sensorineural hearing loss is an uncommon and lasting issue according to new studies.
How is Hearing Loss Triggered by COVID-19?
Scientists are discovering more about COVID-19 each day. But there’s still a great deal we don’t understand. 2019 is when the virus was first discovered. New pathogens normally take years or decades for scientists to describe. One thing we do know about COVID is that it impacts different people in countless different ways (making it a particularly difficult and challenging nemesis).
There are lots of symptoms you can experience. And irreversible hearing loss is sometimes one of them. Why this occurs is still not known. The virus might be triggering a reaction called “cellular stress”. According to this hypothesis, COVID puts so much stress on your body that some cells (such as those responsible for hearing) begin to deteriorate. But this kind of hearing loss may also be a result of your body’s own immune reaction. Significant damage can be done to your body when your immune system overcompensates.
It’s also worth mentioning that sometimes this hearing loss can first appear when other COVID symptoms are on their way out. The actual timing isn’t precisely known. We are also clueless why it’s more or less likely to occur.
Is There Any Treatment For This Sort of Hearing Loss?
Sensorineural hearing loss triggered by COVID-19 can certainly be permanent. There may be some treatment options depending on certain variables. It’s already been observed that early steroid treatments appear to help protect your hearing from added damage. It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you experience sudden hearing loss.
Having a hearing test after your COVID has passed is always a smart idea.
There are a few qualifiers to all of this that should be pointed out. Hearing loss, first off, is not a very common COVID symptom. We don’t know yet how common this particular symptom is yet. But as scientists learn more about COVID-19 the science will adjust.
Can You Prevent COVID-Induced Hearing Loss?
If you have sudden changes in your hearing and you have COVID-19 get in touch with your doctor and schedule a hearing examination with us. An early response could help minimize long-term hearing loss.
Try to stay healthy: The best way to protect against COVID-related hearing loss is to do whatever you can to steer clear of contracting COVID in the first place. So when it comes to things like social distancing, social gatherings, and wearing a mask, follow the guidelines.
This symptom does happen though it’s rare. And the more insight you have about COVID and hearing loss, the better. If you think you’ve already had hearing damage, it’s probably a wise decision to come in and get tested.