During 2022, the World Health Organization began examining rare reports of hearing issues occurring after COVID-19 vaccinations. They posted a newsletter on their website, stating they had received reports of auditory problems like tinnitus and hearing loss potentially linked to the vaccines.
Read on to find out what we know about the reports so far and what science has to say about the potential link:
About the COVID Reports
WHO reported 164 cases of hearing loss worldwide among individuals who had received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or AstraZeneca shots, and 367 cases of tinnitus. According to WHO’s analysis, around 80% of the tinnitus cases occurred in individuals who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Out of 11 billion COVID vaccine doses worldwide, these reported cases appeared extremely rare.
The average age of those who reported hearing loss was 47. Most of the individuals were healthy and had no previous conditions. Those who had tinnitus were aged 48 on the average, with almost 75 percent of them being women and a third working in healthcare.
Most individuals have recovered, according to reports. Some of them, however, state that the condition has caused them great discomfort and has been going on for months, like one Dr Gregory Poland, for example. According to an NBC News article, Poland- a scientific adviser for Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen Global Services who acts as a consultant on vaccine development for Moderna- was still suffering from ‘unrelenting’ tinnitus one year after receiving his second COVID-19 vaccine.
However, no medical evidence confirms these cases resulted from COVID-19 vaccinations. The conditions may have been purely coincidental, especially considering their rarity.
What Does Science Say?
In 2021, upon experiencing an increase in patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine tried to address the reports by conducting a study. They used data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and compared it with the expected incidence of sensorineural hearing loss in the wider population. According to their findings, the incidence of SSNHL occurring after COVID-19 vaccination not only doesn’t exceed that of the general population but may even be lower.
The lead author of the study, Eric Formeister, M.D., has said that although this analysis suggests the COVID vaccines are not associated with sudden hearing loss, ‘more research is needed to address this question’.
Two studies, published in the February 2022 edition of JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, examined the link between sudden hearing loss and COVID-19 vaccinations. One of them was conducted in Israel, and the other- in the US.
The Israeli study involved 2.5 million Pfizer-BioNTech recipients. Only 91 reported sudden hearing loss after dose one, 79 after dose two. Researchers stated these numbers were quite low, but still ‘higher than expected’.
The US study, on the other hand, used an updated analysis of VAERS data and a case series of patients who experienced sudden hearing loss after COVID-19 vaccination. Its findings suggested no association between COVID-19 vaccines and an increased risk of hearing loss compared with the expected incidence in the general population.
Bottom Line
Further research needs to confirm any link between COVID-19 vaccines and auditory issues. Current data shows no significant correlation.
Dr Poland, who developed tinnitus after his second COVID vaccine, reassured, “Nobody should fear vaccination due to potential auditory side effects,” as reported by NBC News article. According to him, the risks of complications from COVID are far higher than the risks to the vaccine.
Whether you have received a COVID-19 vaccination or not, one thing is clear: if you do notice you are experiencing hearing problems, the best step is to book an appointment with your local audiologist to have your hearing tested. We at Hear4U offer fully comprehensive hearing tests that we carry out using the most recent diagnostic technology available. And the best part? They are completely free! Click the button below to book your appointment today.
