Not only is the COVID-19 vaccine saving lives, it is playing an instrumental role in ending the pandemic and getting us back to our normal lives.
However, the known side effects of the vaccine are causing some to pause and wonder whether it’s really worth it. It’s common to experience body aches and fatigue after the second dose, but audiological symptoms like ringing in the ears is not.
Below we explore the potential link between the COVID-19 vaccine and tinnitus.
Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Tinnitus?
The answer to this question is that tinnitus is potentially a rare side effect, but there is not enough data to know for sure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not list tinnitus as a side effect of the vaccine. The U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database reports that around 0.95% of patients – 1,486 people – have reported tinnitus after receiving one of the FDA-approved COVID vaccines.
In the U.K., fewer than one in 14,7000 people have reported tinnitus after receiving the vaccine. The British Tinnitus Association has listed tinnitus as a very rare side effect of the vaccine.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Tinnitus
Throughout the pandemic, physicians and audiologists have seen an increase in tinnitus cases.
A study published in November 2020 sought to determine the impact of the pandemic on people who suffer from tinnitus. They accomplished this by using data gathered by an online survey from over 3,000 participants from 48 different countries.
Researchers found that 40% of patients who had tinnitus reported that it had become even more bothersome during the pandemic. This was likely due to stress and pandemic-related lifestyle changes like social distancing.
Spending more time alone at home and quiet places like Creole Nature Trail can cause tinnitus to be more noticeable.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are a number of treatment options for tinnitus, including:
- Acoustic therapy
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Hearing aids
- Counseling
For more information about tinnitus treatments or the discuss the potential link between the COVID-19 vaccine and tinnitus, call the experts at the Hearing Center of Lake Charles today.