Long COVID: How to manage distressing change in hearing

Tinnitus is ringing, buzzing or other noises in one or both of your ears or your head. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people cannot hear it.

A recent study by King’s College London revealed that one in five people who tested positive for COVID experienced tinnitus at the same time. Although for a few people within the study the ringing lasted only for a few days, more than half of them were experiencing tinnitus for weeks or months.

Another study, conducted by The University of Manchester and Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, found that 7.6 percent of people who contracted Covid went on to suffer a loss in hearing, while 14.8 percent of people reported suffering with tinnitus and 7.2 percent of people reported suffering with rotatory vertigo. A paper by researchers at Lamar University in Texas showed the estimated prevalence of tinnitus post COVID-19 is eight percent.

Some people may not be affected by the sound, but for others it can be very distressing and impact their quality of life, mood, sleep and concentration. In most cases, tinnitus improves with time because the brain forgets it’s listening to the sound.

Several viral infections have been known to cause direct damage to the inner ear area. They can induce an inflammatory response or make the inner ear vulnerable to a bacterial or fungal infection. The stress caused by restrictions and isolation during the pandemic has been consistently suggested as a reason behind people experiencing tinnitus.

A 2020 study found that increased depression, anxiety, irritability, and financial worries further significantly contributed to tinnitus being more bothersome during the pandemic period.

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It is important to consult your doctor first if you are experiencing tinnitus due to COVID-19 pr long COVID. If COVID has left someone with hearing loss as well as tinnitus then fitting hearing aids will help with both conditions.

In addition, there are lots of things people can do to make it better or even encourage it to go away.

Quiet background sounds such as natural sounds, a fan, or the radio played at a quieter level than the tinnitus can encourage your brain to focus on the more interesting sound instead of the tinnitus.

To reduce the impact of stress on the development and continuance of tinnitus, practice relaxation techniques. You can try doing breathing or meditation exercises regularly. Progressive muscle relaxation exercises are also helpful in calming tinnitus.

Maintain a normal sleep and wake time, eat a healthy diet, and get some exercise on a regular basis. Studies show that good rest and healthy living standards can boost your immune system.

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Apart from tinnitus, other common symptoms of long COVID include extreme tiredness (fatigue), shortness of breath, chest pain, problems with memory and concentration, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations.

Long COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 infection. However, anyone who has been infected with the virus can experience long COVID conditions, even those who had mild illness or no symptoms.