Are COVID-19 Vaccines Linked to Hearing Loss?

Recent research and reports have suggested a possible link between COVID-19 vaccines and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), leading researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine to launch a study examining this claim. The research team pulled data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), collected between December 14, 2020, and March 2, 2021, for the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

“Based on the rate of hearing loss reported in VAERS, so far there is no evidence that people receiving a COVID-19 vaccination are at higher risk of developing sudden hearing loss than those who have not been vaccinated,” says study co-author Daniel Sun, M.D., assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

After reviewing the data and any reports of sudden hearing loss, the researchers concluded that the vaccines had not led to more cases of SSHL. As these are preliminary results, the research team plans to continue their work around this topic with additional investigations and research. See the full news release from Johns Hopkins Medicine here.

While these first conclusions are encouraging, it is still important to always pay attention to any changes in your hearing, ear pressure, and balance. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a severe condition that requires immediate treatment. Similarly, other forms of hearing loss can escalate when left untreated. If you or a loved one has noticed recent changes in hearing or found it more challenging to hear over the last year due to others wearing masks, contact us to request an appointment.

Are you interested in learning more about developments in hearing research and best practices for hearing health? Check out our other blog posts and follow our Roanoke and Crozet Facebook pages.