Covid-19 has shaped our lives for the majority of this year. Although things are beginning to return to normal, we all must continue to look out for signs and symptoms of the virus to help stop the spread.
By now, we’re all aware of the main symptoms. A new and continuous cough, high temperature and a change or loss of smell or taste. For more information on the Covid-19 symptoms, you can visit the NHS website here.
As well as these common symptoms, continuous research is being held into some of the slightly less frequent side effects. One of these is hearing loss and tinnitus.
Multiple study results show that some patients have experienced worsened hearing abilities after contracting the virus. This includes suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and having difficulties balancing.
These side effects are manifesting because, in some patients, Covid-19 affected the hair cells in the cochlea. The cochlea is a bone in the inner ear that is responsible for converting sound waves into signals interpreted by the brain. Damage to the cochlea can lead to several hearing problems.
As it stands, there is good evidence to suggest that Covid-19 may have some effect on a patient’s hearing abilities. However, whether this is temporary or long-lasting, continues to remain unknown. Day by day research and studies continue to help us understand the full effect of the virus.
We hope that you and your families are staying safe at this time as we continue to navigate through what has been a strange year! To find out more about how we’re operating with Covid-19 safety procedures in place, click here.
