Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Tinnitus?

The majority of the word’s population have received the COVID-19 vaccine, however, the known side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine may be causing some people to pause and wonder whether it’s really worth it. Adverse effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unusual following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. If adverse effects occur, they generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, during clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) collected data on each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines for a minimum of two months (eight weeks) after the final dose. CDC, FDA, and other federal agencies continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines even now that the vaccines are in use. (source)

In this blog article, we explore the potential connection between the COVID-19 vaccine and tinnitus.

Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Tinnitus (also known as “Ringing in the Ears”)?

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.

Hearing Loss Study: COVID-19 & 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 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

Need Help? Contact Us Today!

For more information about tinnitus treatments or to discuss the potential link between the COVID-19 vaccine and tinnitus, call the experts at the Kenwood Hearing Center today.

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