You Could Experience Hearing Loss for Good Following COVID-19, New Report Finds

Recent reports said, the term "long haulers" refers to people infected with COVID-19 and continues to demonstrate characteristic symptoms a few months from diagnosis.

Up until now, a similar portion of this demographic indicates a narrow range of severe permanent effects, such as lung scarring. In contrast, the others experience temporary complications such as "fatigue and tingles."

A new study that the BMJ Case Reports journal recently published provides the initial subset with a worrying addition.

Reports also said it might be recalled that a series of neurological symptoms that began "to attend positive COVID-19 cases with greater frequency."

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An Alarming Symptom

One of the neurological symptoms seen by researchers of this study was the SSNHL or sensorineural hearing loss or hearing loss caused by vestibulocochlear nerve damage.

In their paper, the study authors wrote that the exact pathophysiology of the illness remains unknown, with the most possible causative factor "being a viral infection."

The authors added instant steroids are the most effective treatment to improve prediction. Specifically, this new report presented the first case of the SSNHL case in the United Kingdom after the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Physical examination and imaging did not include any other basis of hearing loss. In addition, a literature review reported that four other cases had been previously defined.

The authors explained that hearing loss could be a substantial cause of morbidity and can easily be misused or neglected in the intensive care setting.

As indicated in this new report, being conscious and screening for sensorineural hearing loss after COVID-19 allows an "early course of steroids," offering the best chance to recover hearing.

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First Case Reported in the UK

The data gathered concerns a 45-year-old COVID-19 inpatient who was transferred to the ICU after 10 of testing positive for the virus.

The symptoms he experienced included difficulty breathing, fever, cough, and hearing loss, specifically in his left ear.

The inpatient's condition significantly improved after being on a ventilator, given remdesivir and intravenous steroids, and undergoing blood transfusion.

Nonetheless, one week after release from the hospital, the patient's hearing did not go back to normal. No sign of blockage, infection, or related comorbidities were seen, and according to reports, his medical records did not specify "any auditory impairment before. In fact, the study authors said, other than asthma, he was in good health.

Deteriorating Effect

The deteriorating SARS-CoV-2 effect on the lungs appears to affect cells lining the middle ear in a similar way. According to the authors, SSNHL is SSNHL is a subject of continuing research in the field of otolaryngology with questions concentrated on the optimum route of administration of steroids for the cure.

Nevertheless, SSNHL in the context of this infectious disease has not been extensively acknowledged to date. The researchers went on to identify their results accordingly.

In terms of idiopathic SSNL, they explained, more research should be done to analyze the benefit of administering steroids.

Conducting hearing loss screening is proposed in the hospital backgrounds to avoid losing the treatment window and reducing hearing loss-linked morbidity.

The abrupt onset of SSNHL can manifest after COVID-19. This, the researchers said, is the first reported case of SSNHL after COVID-19 infection in the UK.

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