[Mick]

I think there's a lot we don't know about the aftermath of COVID for those who've been infected.

Early last year, I had a sudden and total hearing loss in my right ear, about 90 days after I had the Omicron variant. It wasn't gradual, I woke up one day and it was gone. I met with several audiologists and an ENT specialist at Sutter Health. The audiologist asked if I'd experienced a sudden very loud noise (no), a blow to the head (no), blood clots (no). She then asked if I'd been infected with COVID. She said that ever since the Omicron variant, she'd seen a marked increase in people suffering from SSNHL (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss). There was no proof, not at the time, but the theory was that the nerves in the ear responsible for hearing are susceptible to COVID.  

Here's a few links:

I had four steroids shots behind my eardrum and a regimen of antivirals.  Got back about 35% of my hearing.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. The morning you woke up with no hearing in one ear must have been so scary. I hope you experience some additional improvement with time or treatment.

Yeah, me too. I actually thought I had a bug in my ear. Hearing was totally gone, profound loss. After the steroids, the effect was interesting...basically, it sounds exactly as if someone is speaking to you with their hand over their mouths.

Good news was that my stingy insurance company paid for top-of-the-line hearing aids. Great for volume, doesn't do much for clarity and doesn't eliminate background noise. 

Audiologist noted a funny side effect on my general, age-related hearing loss--I could hear deeper sounds, but not higher-pitched sounds. In other words, she said, you can hear men, but not women as well. Imagine my wife's delight at that pronouncement... ;)

One final comment...the ENT at Sutter Health was remarkably, almost stunningly unsympathetic, tbh. A Midwesterner, and not a Stanford grad, btw. All my other medical professionals were wonderful in that regard.

[Mick]

I think there's a lot we don't know about the aftermath of COVID for those who've been infected.

Early last year, I had a sudden and total hearing loss in my right ear, about 90 days after I had the Omicron variant. It wasn't gradual, I woke up one day and it was gone. I met with several audiologists and an ENT specialist at Sutter Health. The audiologist asked if I'd experienced a sudden very loud noise (no), a blow to the head (no), blood clots (no). She then asked if I'd been infected with COVID. She said that ever since the Omicron variant, she'd seen a marked increase in people suffering from SSNHL (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss). There was no proof, not at the time, but the theory was that the nerves in the ear responsible for hearing are susceptible to COVID.  

Here's a few links:

I had four steroids shots behind my eardrum and a regimen of antivirals.  Got back about 35% of my hearing.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. The morning you woke up with no hearing in one ear must have been so scary. I hope you experience some additional improvement with time or treatment.

Yeah, me too. I actually thought I had a bug in my ear. Hearing was totally gone, profound loss. After the steroids, the effect was interesting...basically, it sounds exactly as if someone is speaking to you with their hand over their mouths.

Good news was that my stingy insurance company paid for top-of-the-line hearing aids. Great for volume, doesn't do much for clarity and doesn't eliminate background noise. 

Audiologist noted a funny side effect on my general, age-related hearing loss--I could hear deeper sounds, but not higher-pitched sounds. In other words, she said, you can hear men, but not women as well. Imagine my wife's delight at that pronouncement... ;)

One final comment...the ENT at Sutter Health was remarkably, almost stunningly unsympathetic, tbh. A Midwesterner, and not a Stanford grad, btw. All my other medical professionals were wonderful in that regard.