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Tinnitus, a common problem in which people hear ‘ringing’ in their ears or head without an external source, may be exacerbated by the novel coronavirus behind COVID-19, according to a new study. COVID-19 has been linked to a number of symptoms, including neurological ones like loss of smell, and some of these symptoms persist for weeks or months after the other symptoms disappear.
The study comes from Anglia Ruskin University, which was supported by the Tinnitus Associations of the United States and Great Britain to study the potential impact that COVID-19 has on this condition. The research involved around 3,100 people who had tinnitus and developed COVID-19.
Of those participants, a large percentage of them in 40 percent reported that their tinnitus had worsened at the same time they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, the researchers say that a small percentage of participants reported that the onset of their tinnitus coincided with COVID-19.
The findings indicate that tinnitus may be another long-term symptom alongside previously reported problems like rashes and other skin problems, underscoring the possible long-term consequences of this virus. The study’s lead author, Dr. Eldre Beukes, said:
Some of the changes brought about by COVID-19 appear to have had a negative impact on the lives of people with tinnitus and participants in this study reported that COVID-19 symptoms are worsening or, in some cases, even initiating tinnitus and loss auditory. This is something that should be closely scrutinized by clinical and support services.
Some tinnitus patients also reported a worsening of symptoms related to lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic, including emotional changes that can make their tinnitus worse and participate in more video calls.
However, the perception of worsening symptoms related to pandemic lifestyles varied by region, and the study noted that 46 percent of participants in the UK indicated that these changes had a negative impact on their tinnitus in compared to 29 percent in North America.
As with many other potential problems caused or made worse by the new coronavirus, additional research will be necessary to get a clearer picture of the changes and how COVID-19 may influence them.
