# Another gift from Covid: tinnitus **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 2, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092 "2022-01-02T18:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/1 "2022-01-02T18:01:49Z")
After my bout of Covid a few weeks ago I’ve had some lingering symptoms. A cough that shows up especially in the morning, some occasional stuffiness, nothing major. I noticed my neighbor(town house) started to play their tv really loud at all hours of the day and night. I assumed that’s what it was. Our place is pretty well insulated for sound. I heard what sounded like bass vibrations going in and out. I almost went over to talk to them. Then I realized I heard it when I wasn’t home. I hear it anytime there isn’t a lot of background noise. So it’s a sudden onset of tinnitus after I had Covid. Reading up on it there appears to be about 15% occurrence in Covid patients. That’s just great. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/2 "2022-01-02T18:19:51Z")
My brother-in-law had Covid in March 2020 and is experiencing the same, along with some tastes and smells not quite right. I suspect that all post respiratory virus syndromes are going to get a lot of attention going forward. Omicron is so contagious we are going to have billions of examples of so called “long Covid” to study and hopefully treat. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/3 "2022-01-02T19:13:23Z")
I lost my taste and smell but it’s mostly come back. Mostly. Luckily the taste I do have seems normal just not as strong. I will call my doctor tomorrow. I am feeling some pressure in my ears. I’m wondering if I have residual inflammation and if treating that will help. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/4 "2022-01-03T12:17:25Z")
I think I might have gotten tinnitus from the vaccination. I’ve always been protective of my hearing, wearing ear plugs and such. I had minor problems, but only when it was quiet. A week or two after my second shot I noticed it was a lot worse, now I hear it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/5 "2022-01-03T16:49:07Z")
I also read on credible sites that it can be a side effect of the vaccination. I did not have any problem when I was vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/6 "2022-01-11T14:06:29Z")
I went to the doctor yesterday. He looked in my ears and saw nothing wrong. H shrugged his shoulders and recommended an ENT. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/7 "2022-01-11T15:22:08Z")
I’ve had tinnitus for many years, but it has nearly always been very low level (it would sometimes flare up a bit). I also now have it at a higher level and I think it came after my first shot. When I’m stressed, it seems to be the worst…or maybe I just focus on it more. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/8 "2022-01-11T16:18:57Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > When I’m stressed, it seems to be the worst…or maybe I just focus on it more. I’ve got tinnitus from a ruptured eardrum and I would definitely say it is louder when I’m stressed. I now consider it an early warning system for being dehydrated, sleep deprived, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-gift-from-covid-tinnitus/957092/9 "2022-01-11T21:08:46Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’ve had tinnitus for many years, but it has nearly always been very low level (it would sometimes flare up a bit). I also now have it at a higher level and I think it came after my first shot. When I’m stressed, it seems to be the worst…or maybe I just focus on it more. Mine started with my recent illness. I don’t believe in those kinds of coincidences. I have found some articles making a statistical link between Covid and tinnitus but I can’t find if there are any deeper studies as to the cause or treatment. [One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms: International Journal of Audiology: Vol 60, No 12 (tandfonline.com)](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793)