A University of South Australia nursing lecturer has used her own COVID-19 experience to inform research into a little-known side effect of the virus – sudden deafness.
Kim Gibson , a registered nurse with a clinical background in neonatal intensive care, has documented her experience with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) five weeks after testing positive to COVID-19. She was fully vaccinated.
Her findings and recommendations are published in the latest edition of the British Medical Journal Case Reports .
Gibson developed acute hearing loss in one ear, along with vertigo and tinnitus several weeks after experiencing a mild COVID-19 infection in 2022.
She was referred to an otolaryngologist who confirmed sensorineural hearing loss, a little known and poorly understood side effect of COVID-19 that is not listed as a common symptom on most websites, or by GPs.
A course of oral prednisolone and betahistine was prescribed, and Gibson’s hearing slowly improved over subsequent months, although she continues to experience intermittent tinnitus.
“The evidence around the short and long-term impacts of COVID-19 and vaccines is still emerging and the aim of this paper is to highlight the lesser-known side effects of the virus,” Gibson says.
“We believe that clinicians should include sudden hearing loss as a potential side effect of COVID-19 when talking to patients. High-dose corticosteroids are a recommended first line of treatment for SSNHL and it is important that GPs promptly refer patients to specialists as soon as symptoms develop.
“Hearing loss and associated symptoms can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life – they did in my case – and are closely related with anxiety and depression.”
Gibson said that despite working in health education, she was not aware of COVID-19 causing hearing loss.
“This was a shocking experience for me that had a significant impact on my quality of life for several months as I had never had any problems with hearing before; not even an ear infection.
“I was unable to drive a car while experiencing severe vertigo. I needed to reduce my workload, negotiate flexible working hours with my employers and take a leave of absence from study. This was all due to a mild COVID-19 infection.
“I was worried that the hearing loss would be permanent and that I would need a hearing aid. I now feel very nervous about a second COVID-19 infection. What if I experience this again, or even worse?”
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners , sudden sensorineural hearing loss – also known as sudden deafness – occurs when you lose your hearing very quickly, typically only in one ear. It can happen instantly or over a span of several days. People can experience mild hearing impairment or total loss of hearing and it may be temporary or permanent.
Previous studies have linked SSNHL with COVID-19, as well as a potential side effect of COVID vaccination, but the evidence is still limited, Gibson says.
“My experience shows that even people who have a minor COVID-19 infection could be at risk of potentially permanent and debilitating long-term effects. High quality, person-centred care is so critical.”
Notes for editors
A study of hearing loss during the pandemic showed that approximately one third of patients with SSNHL were positive with COVID-19 when they were referred to an audiologist. Other studies reported an increase of SSNHL in 2020 and 2021, including among asymptomatic people .
BMJ Case Reports
Case study
People
Experience of sudden sensorineural hearing loss following a mild COVID-19 infection
14-Apr-2023