COVID-19 has some unusual symptoms such as dampening your sense of taste and smell. We know that one of the first symptoms is loss of smell. But COVID-19 affects more than just your sense of taste and smell. Sensorineural hearing loss is an uncommon and long-term problem according to new studies.
How Can COVID-19 Lead to Hearing Loss?
Scientists are discovering more about COVID-19 each day. But there’s still a great deal we don’t know. The virus itself was only first observed late in 2019. Normally, scientists work for years, even decades, to completely describe a new pathogen. And COVIC-19 is especially challenging because it impacts different people in different ways.
You could experience a wide range of symptoms. And permanent hearing loss is sometimes one of them. Researchers still aren’t certain why that happens. The virus may be causing a response known as “cellular stress”. Some cells (such as the cells in your ear) will start to deteriorate, according to this hypothesis, because the virus places so much stress on the body. But your body’s own immune response might also be responsible for this type of hearing loss. Significant damage can be done to your body when your immune system goes into overdrive.
Also, when other COVID symptoms are going away, this hearing loss can still show up. Again, we aren’t quite sure why this occurs. We also don’t have a good understanding of what type of underlying circumstances would cause COVID-related hearing loss to become more or less likely to happen.
Is There Any Treatment For This Sort of Hearing Loss?
Permanent sensorineural hearing loss is possible with COVID-19. Needless to say, there are countless variables, and there are some treatments, too. It’s already been discovered that early steroid treatments seem to help protect your hearing from additional damage. 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 experience, it might be a smart plan to visit us and have a hearing screening.
There are a few qualifiers to all of this that should be pointed out. First of all, hearing loss does appear to be a fairly uncommon symptom of COVID. We don’t know yet how prevalent this particular symptom is at this point. But as scientists discover more about COVID-19 the science will change.
Can COVID Related Hearing Loss be Prevented?
Right now, if you’re already suffering with COVID, you should let us or your doctor know right away if hearing changes suddenly. Long-term hearing loss can be minimized by quick response.
Try to stay healthy: Safeguarding yourself from getting COVID-19 is the best way to avoid this kind of hearing loss. This means following guidelines in regards to social gatherings, physical distancing, and wearing a mask.
While this particular symptom is uncommon, it still happens. And you will be substantially better off with more insight about hearing loss and COIVID. It’s a good idea to come in for an evaluation if you think you’ve suffered hearing damage.