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Sudden Hearing Loss Waves: The Effect of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination on the Inner Ear
Karen Tawk1, Anthony Tawk1, Mehdi Abouzari2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, 333 City Blvd. West, Suite 525, Orange, CA, 92868, USA.
Abstract:
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) has emerged as a potential complication of COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Various mechanisms by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause hearing loss have been reported, including direct viral invasion, neuroinflammation, blood flow disturbances, and immune-mediated response. However, the temporal relationship between COVID-19 infection and SSNHL remains unclear, with mixed findings and conflicting results reported in different studies. Similarly, while anecdotal reports have linked COVID-19 vaccination to SSNHL, evidence remains scarce. Establishing a correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and SSNHL implies a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis involving interactions between the immune system and the body's stress response. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the overwhelming evidence of the vaccines' safety and efficacy in limiting the spread of the disease and remains the primordial tool in reducing death.
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