April 13, 2021

Tinnitus and Covid: The Latest Research

Is there a link between tinnitus and Covid. The answer is that there are a number of links, though the exact relationships are not yet completely understood.
Dr Edmund Farrar
Written by: 
Dr Edmund Farrar

One of the most common questions we’ve been asked recently is whether there is a link between covid and tinnitus. The answer is that there are a number of links, though the exact relationships are not yet completely understood.

A Difficult Year

The last year has been a difficult time for many of us, even more so for people whose tinnitus may have been worse than normal and driving them crazy.

The uncertain times created by the COVID-19 pandemic have left people both with and without underlying health conditions struggling more than usual.

Feeling Isolated

This is especially true for people with tinnitus.

Lockdowns and social distancing only serve to worsen the feeling of isolation experienced by many with tinnitus and hearing loss. If that is you, you are not alone. Check out this article on how to manage your tinnitus.

Covid Linked to Tinnitus

Early on in the pandemic the main concerns were understandably of life and death, rather than quality of life.

More recently, however, a number of reports have been published in the scientific literature highlighting the potential association of COVID-19 and injury to hearing health, including causing or worsening tinnitus, as highlighted by the group from Manchester.

More Research Reports

The same group recently revisited the same topic and found more than 50 scientific reports linking tinnitus and Covid.

These were mostly what researchers call case reports, case series and observational studies, which are not usually considered to be the most conclusive evidence.

Hearing Loss as a Result of Covid

However, they do show that this is a common complaint and suggest that around 7.6%, or around 1 in 13 people, report hearing loss as a consequence of having Covid-19.

The relatively good news is that for most people these effects seem to be transitory, with no significant persisting problems.

The stress of the pandemic has been shown to worsen tinnitus

Can COVID Make Tinnitus Worse?

Yes. For many people this has been the case.

A large study of more than 3,000 people, mostly in North America and Europe, showed that 40% of people reported worsening of their tinnitus, compared to 54% with no change and 6% that reported improvement.

Social and Emotional Consequences

A large amount of this was driven by the social and emotional consequences of the pandemic, such as social isolation, and this was particularly so for females and younger people with tinnitus.

Stress Has Worsened Tinnitus

As with pre-pandemic times people reported that increased depression, anxiety, irritability and financial worries were all associated with reports of worsening tinnitus.

A complex relationship between mental health and tinnitus

There is a complex relationship between mental health and tinnitus: tinnitus can worsen mental health, whilst those with poor mental health are more likely to develop tinnitus and find the effects more troubling.

This vicious cycle is something that many people with tinnitus will recognise.

The research

Research suggests that increased stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 appears to reduce the effectiveness of some treatments for tinnitus.

Need help with your tinnitus?
Learn out to tune out tinnitus and tune back into life with Oto's clinically proven program
Try for free

Face Masks and Tinnitus

No evidence for masks worsening tinnitus

Whilst there is no evidence that the wearing of masks causes or worsens tinnitus there are some challenges associated with their use.

Can't use facial clues

Around 80% of people with tinnitus have hearing loss.

Whether they are aware of it or not, people with hearing loss often come to rely, at least to some extent, on lip reading and other facial clues to follow speech.

This is much more difficult if the person you are trying to speak to is wearing a mask, potentially altering the sound of their voice as well as hiding their lips.

Masks hide facial cues

Tinnitus and Medication

There are a number of medications that are known to cause tinnitus, particularly when taken in high doses or as an overdose.

The best known of these is Aspirin, though you can find a long list compiled by the American Tinnitus Association.

Covid Drugs and Tinnitus

Early on in the pandemic there was significant interest in Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, two drugs usually used to treat Malaria, as potential treatments for COVID-19.

Both of these medicines are no longer recommended as they are not effective for treatment of prophylaxis.

Ototoxicity

However, they have also been shown to cause ototoxicity, a term used to describe worsening hearing or tinnitus as a result of taking a medication, with mixed results as to whether or not these effects are reversible.

Interestingly, in addition to Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine several other treatments for COVID-19 have been shown to have ototoxic properties, including

  • Azithromycin
  • Lopinavir-Ritonavir
  • Interferon
  • Ribavirin
  • Ivermectin.

Extra caution should be used in particularly vulnerable groups, such as older people or those who already have hearing loss.  

Health Services Negatively Affected

Reprioritisation

Reprioritisation of healthcare resources, including redeployment of staff to emergency work and cancellation of face to face appointments has had a significant impact on the delivery of hearing healthcare.

Telehealth

Whilst some studies have shown that telehealth approaches to tinnitus therapy, usually via telephone, are an option for many people, they were not acceptable to 20%, often those with worse hearing and more bothersome tinnitus.

Change in practice

COVID-19 appears to have caused a real change in practice.

30% of audiologists used telehealth approaches prior to the pandemic, but now 98% report having done so and 86% saying that they would be likely to continue to use this approach, at least some of the time after the pandemic.

We don't yet know the full relationship between tinnitus and Covid

The Way Forward

As with so much else relating to Covid, we don’t yet understand the full implications for hearing, tinnitus and balance.

A New Study

To better understand this, a new study being run by Professor David Baguley, one of the UK’s leading tinnitus experts, is about to launch and hopes to systematically assess the short and long term implications on hearing health following recovery from COVID-19.

Audiometry

The CHEAR (Covid and HEARing) study plans to make use of extended high frequency audiometry, whether hearing is tested above the range of frequencies normally used for hearing tests, which may show earlier signs of hearing damage.

Are you particularly struggling with tinnitus at the moment?

Online Support Groups

The British Tinnitus Associations has created online support groups to connect different people living with tinnitus across the UK.

There are multiple BTA online groups at varying times during the week to offer you a variety of options to suit your schedule.

Engaging with other people in the same situation and learning about different coping mechanisms can provide you with the support you need to get through this time.

Changes to services

The British Association of Audiology in partnership with the BTA has written more detailed information about the changes to tinnitus services during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Oto if you're feeling lonely or isolated and in need of help and you can also seek professional help for tinnitus as needed.

Join Oto

The Oto app offers techniques to reduce tinnitus intrusion including:‍

  • CBT techniques
  • Sound enrichment and audio landscapes
  • Mindfulness activities
  • Exercises to promote relaxation and physical wellbeing
  • Sleep support

Check out Oto's Tinnitus Support Group, a supportive community for individuals with tinnitus or related conditions to receive regular tips and tricks from the expert team at Oto!‍

FAQs

Is there a link between COVID-19 and tinnitus?

Yes, there are several reported links, though the exact relationships between COVID-19 and tinnitus are not yet fully understood.


How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted individuals with tinnitus?

The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of isolation for many with tinnitus, with lockdowns and social distancing measures making the condition more challenging to manage.


Are there scientific reports linking tinnitus and COVID-19?

Yes there have been scientific reports showing an increase in the number of people suffering from tinnitus since COVID however it is unclear the relationship between the two. There are a number of possible theories as to why there has been an increase in Tinnitus since COVID which are currently being researched. These include post-viral inflammation of the auditory nerves, increased stress levels during COVID and lockdowns as well as changing working environments affecting the masking of tinnitus.


Can COVID-19 result in hearing loss?

It is unclear the relationship between COVID-19 and hearing loss. There is ongoing research looking at whether there is a link between the two.


Can the stress from the pandemic worsen tinnitus?

Yes, increased stress, anxiety, depression, and financial worries during the pandemic have been associated with reports of worsening tinnitus.


How has the delivery of hearing healthcare been affected during the pandemic?

The reprioritization of healthcare resources, staff redeployment, and cancellation of face-to-face appointments have significantly impacted hearing healthcare delivery.


Are there studies underway to understand the implications of COVID-19 on hearing health?

Yes, the CHEAR (Covid and HEARing) study led by Professor David Baguley aims to assess the short and long-term implications on hearing health post-COVID-19 recovery.


How can individuals with tinnitus find support during the pandemic?

The British Tinnitus Association has created online support groups to connect individuals with tinnitus across the UK, offering coping mechanisms and shared experiences.


What resources does the Oto app offer for tinnitus management?

The Oto app provides techniques like CBT, sound enrichment, mindfulness activities, relaxation exercises, and sleep support tailored for tinnitus management.

Need help with your tinnitus?
Learn out to tune out tinnitus and tune back into life with Oto's clinically proven program
Try for free
Is there a link between tinnitus and Covid. The answer is that there are a number of links, though the exact relationships are not yet completely understood.
Dr Edmund Farrar

Dr Edmund Farrar

Medically Reviewed by
Dr Jameel Muzaffar
Co-Founder at Oto
April 13, 2021

Tinnitus and Covid: The Latest Research

One of the most common questions we’ve been asked recently is whether there is a link between covid and tinnitus. The answer is that there are a number of links, though the exact relationships are not yet completely understood.

A Difficult Year

The last year has been a difficult time for many of us, even more so for people whose tinnitus may have been worse than normal and driving them crazy.

The uncertain times created by the COVID-19 pandemic have left people both with and without underlying health conditions struggling more than usual.

Feeling Isolated

This is especially true for people with tinnitus.

Lockdowns and social distancing only serve to worsen the feeling of isolation experienced by many with tinnitus and hearing loss. If that is you, you are not alone. Check out this article on how to manage your tinnitus.

Covid Linked to Tinnitus

Early on in the pandemic the main concerns were understandably of life and death, rather than quality of life.

More recently, however, a number of reports have been published in the scientific literature highlighting the potential association of COVID-19 and injury to hearing health, including causing or worsening tinnitus, as highlighted by the group from Manchester.

More Research Reports

The same group recently revisited the same topic and found more than 50 scientific reports linking tinnitus and Covid.

These were mostly what researchers call case reports, case series and observational studies, which are not usually considered to be the most conclusive evidence.

Hearing Loss as a Result of Covid

However, they do show that this is a common complaint and suggest that around 7.6%, or around 1 in 13 people, report hearing loss as a consequence of having Covid-19.

The relatively good news is that for most people these effects seem to be transitory, with no significant persisting problems.

The stress of the pandemic has been shown to worsen tinnitus

Can COVID Make Tinnitus Worse?

Yes. For many people this has been the case.

A large study of more than 3,000 people, mostly in North America and Europe, showed that 40% of people reported worsening of their tinnitus, compared to 54% with no change and 6% that reported improvement.

Social and Emotional Consequences

A large amount of this was driven by the social and emotional consequences of the pandemic, such as social isolation, and this was particularly so for females and younger people with tinnitus.

Stress Has Worsened Tinnitus

As with pre-pandemic times people reported that increased depression, anxiety, irritability and financial worries were all associated with reports of worsening tinnitus.

A complex relationship between mental health and tinnitus

There is a complex relationship between mental health and tinnitus: tinnitus can worsen mental health, whilst those with poor mental health are more likely to develop tinnitus and find the effects more troubling.

This vicious cycle is something that many people with tinnitus will recognise.

The research

Research suggests that increased stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 appears to reduce the effectiveness of some treatments for tinnitus.

Discover how to tune out tinnitus with our free webinar

Thanks for signing up! Please check your inbox to access the course.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
You don’t just have to “live with it"
Why we hear tinnitus
How it feels to tune it out
Clinically proven methods that really work

Face Masks and Tinnitus

No evidence for masks worsening tinnitus

Whilst there is no evidence that the wearing of masks causes or worsens tinnitus there are some challenges associated with their use.

Can't use facial clues

Around 80% of people with tinnitus have hearing loss.

Whether they are aware of it or not, people with hearing loss often come to rely, at least to some extent, on lip reading and other facial clues to follow speech.

This is much more difficult if the person you are trying to speak to is wearing a mask, potentially altering the sound of their voice as well as hiding their lips.

Masks hide facial cues

Tinnitus and Medication

There are a number of medications that are known to cause tinnitus, particularly when taken in high doses or as an overdose.

The best known of these is Aspirin, though you can find a long list compiled by the American Tinnitus Association.

Covid Drugs and Tinnitus

Early on in the pandemic there was significant interest in Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, two drugs usually used to treat Malaria, as potential treatments for COVID-19.

Both of these medicines are no longer recommended as they are not effective for treatment of prophylaxis.

Ototoxicity

However, they have also been shown to cause ototoxicity, a term used to describe worsening hearing or tinnitus as a result of taking a medication, with mixed results as to whether or not these effects are reversible.

Interestingly, in addition to Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine several other treatments for COVID-19 have been shown to have ototoxic properties, including

  • Azithromycin
  • Lopinavir-Ritonavir
  • Interferon
  • Ribavirin
  • Ivermectin.

Extra caution should be used in particularly vulnerable groups, such as older people or those who already have hearing loss.  

Health Services Negatively Affected

Reprioritisation

Reprioritisation of healthcare resources, including redeployment of staff to emergency work and cancellation of face to face appointments has had a significant impact on the delivery of hearing healthcare.

Telehealth

Whilst some studies have shown that telehealth approaches to tinnitus therapy, usually via telephone, are an option for many people, they were not acceptable to 20%, often those with worse hearing and more bothersome tinnitus.

Change in practice

COVID-19 appears to have caused a real change in practice.

30% of audiologists used telehealth approaches prior to the pandemic, but now 98% report having done so and 86% saying that they would be likely to continue to use this approach, at least some of the time after the pandemic.

We don't yet know the full relationship between tinnitus and Covid

The Way Forward

As with so much else relating to Covid, we don’t yet understand the full implications for hearing, tinnitus and balance.

A New Study

To better understand this, a new study being run by Professor David Baguley, one of the UK’s leading tinnitus experts, is about to launch and hopes to systematically assess the short and long term implications on hearing health following recovery from COVID-19.

Audiometry

The CHEAR (Covid and HEARing) study plans to make use of extended high frequency audiometry, whether hearing is tested above the range of frequencies normally used for hearing tests, which may show earlier signs of hearing damage.

Are you particularly struggling with tinnitus at the moment?

Online Support Groups

The British Tinnitus Associations has created online support groups to connect different people living with tinnitus across the UK.

There are multiple BTA online groups at varying times during the week to offer you a variety of options to suit your schedule.

Engaging with other people in the same situation and learning about different coping mechanisms can provide you with the support you need to get through this time.

Changes to services

The British Association of Audiology in partnership with the BTA has written more detailed information about the changes to tinnitus services during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Oto if you're feeling lonely or isolated and in need of help and you can also seek professional help for tinnitus as needed.

Join Oto

The Oto app offers techniques to reduce tinnitus intrusion including:‍

  • CBT techniques
  • Sound enrichment and audio landscapes
  • Mindfulness activities
  • Exercises to promote relaxation and physical wellbeing
  • Sleep support

Check out Oto's Tinnitus Support Group, a supportive community for individuals with tinnitus or related conditions to receive regular tips and tricks from the expert team at Oto!‍

FAQs

Is there a link between COVID-19 and tinnitus?

Yes, there are several reported links, though the exact relationships between COVID-19 and tinnitus are not yet fully understood.


How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted individuals with tinnitus?

The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of isolation for many with tinnitus, with lockdowns and social distancing measures making the condition more challenging to manage.


Are there scientific reports linking tinnitus and COVID-19?

Yes there have been scientific reports showing an increase in the number of people suffering from tinnitus since COVID however it is unclear the relationship between the two. There are a number of possible theories as to why there has been an increase in Tinnitus since COVID which are currently being researched. These include post-viral inflammation of the auditory nerves, increased stress levels during COVID and lockdowns as well as changing working environments affecting the masking of tinnitus.


Can COVID-19 result in hearing loss?

It is unclear the relationship between COVID-19 and hearing loss. There is ongoing research looking at whether there is a link between the two.


Can the stress from the pandemic worsen tinnitus?

Yes, increased stress, anxiety, depression, and financial worries during the pandemic have been associated with reports of worsening tinnitus.


How has the delivery of hearing healthcare been affected during the pandemic?

The reprioritization of healthcare resources, staff redeployment, and cancellation of face-to-face appointments have significantly impacted hearing healthcare delivery.


Are there studies underway to understand the implications of COVID-19 on hearing health?

Yes, the CHEAR (Covid and HEARing) study led by Professor David Baguley aims to assess the short and long-term implications on hearing health post-COVID-19 recovery.


How can individuals with tinnitus find support during the pandemic?

The British Tinnitus Association has created online support groups to connect individuals with tinnitus across the UK, offering coping mechanisms and shared experiences.


What resources does the Oto app offer for tinnitus management?

The Oto app provides techniques like CBT, sound enrichment, mindfulness activities, relaxation exercises, and sleep support tailored for tinnitus management.

Unlock the Secret to Tinnitus Relief With Our Free Webinar

Register for our 20 minute webinar and learn why you don't just have to live with tinnitus.
Thanks for signing up! Please check your inbox to access the course.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download the app

Try for free