A Rising Concern: COVID-19 & Hearing Loss

New research suggests that young people who have had COVID-19 may risk hearing loss and other hearing issues.

According to this study with data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service, hearing loss has been documented in young people with “no prior hearing issues after COVID-19 infection,” which could suggest a link between hearing issues and the virus.

Viral infections can often lead to hearing challenges, but hearing can recover from many viruses altering it. At the end of the day, it’s crucial that you monitor your hearing health after getting sick, no matter your age range.

How COVID-19 Affects the Ears

In the study, almost 7 million adults ages 20-39 years old with no prior history of hearing loss were monitored from January 2020 to December 2022.

Participants reported 38,269 hearing loss cases and 5,908 sensorineural hearing loss cases – and the risk was significantly greater for those who were infected with COVID-19 versus those who were not.

Many viral infections, COVID-19 included, have the potential to damage the inner ear, while others can lead to inflammatory responses or increase the risk of fungal/bacterial infection, which can all lead to hearing loss challenges.

Common symptoms of hearing loss that you should look out for after getting sick include muffled hearing, struggles to understand speech in busy environments, ringing or fluttering in your ears (tinnitus) and feeling lost in conversations.

Even if your symptoms are mild as you recover from COVID-19, it’s vital that you pay attention to if they fade as you heal or not. Ignoring these mild symptoms can lead to further damage and an impact on your quality of life down the line.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Hearing

Whether you acquired hearing challenges due to COVID complications or another cause, you don’t have to deal with hearing loss alone.

Regular hearing testing is vital to monitoring further changes to your hearing and making sure you stay ahead of the game when it comes to safeguarding your ears. Avoid loud noise exposure, manage stress and prioritize regular check-ups to keep tabs on your hearing.

If needed, advanced hearing aid technology can also help boost your hearing capabilities and ensure you’re hearing the life you love without interruption.

The latest innovations in hearing aids have made the clunky devices of old look vintage! With AI processing, physical health monitoring, Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone connectivity, your devices work with you to ensure your overall well-being and hearing are well looked after.