Hello Doctor,
I’m a 22-year-old male, and I have sensorineural hearing loss. I went to see several ENT doctors and underwent multiple hearing tests, which confirmed my diagnosis. I’ve had normal hearing all my life, but I first noticed issues with high-frequency sounds, like the doorbell and alarm sounds. I began struggling to hear conversations in crowded places, like lecture rooms and coffee shops. I visited an audiologist for hearing aids, who suggested my hearing loss could be due to constant exposure to loud noises. However, I lead a quiet life and have never attended parties or been exposed to loud noise. Another suggestion was exposure to a very loud sound, such as a gunshot, which has never occurred in my life. Lastly, another audiologist mentioned it might be related to COVID-19, which I had in April 2021, though it was very mild and resolved in two days. I had an MRI that showed no issues. Now, I’m getting hearing aids. My question is: Is there any treatment for hearing loss caused by COVID-19?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
You have what’s called high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Unfortunately, if you haven't identified any reversible causes—like exposure to loud sounds, ototoxic drugs, or trauma—we do not expect significant improvement in the future. If your hearing loss is indeed caused by an infection, it is mostly a permanent condition. Using hearing aids will help you regain your normal life without medications or surgeries, which is a positive step forward.
Thanks
