British experts: "Corona" may cause sudden and permanent loss of hearing

British experts have found new evidence that the Corona virus may also cause a sudden and permanent loss of hearing, confirming that such problems need early detection and urgent treatment, according to a study that the British "Guardian" newspaper highlighted its results.

Scientists at University College London published a study in the BMG Case Report, on the case of a 45-year-old man with asthma, who was admitted to intensive care after suffering from "Covid 19".

The man was placed on a ventilator, he was given anti-viral drugs, and a week after leaving the intensive care unit, he suffered a tinnitus and then lost hearing in his left ear.

The team does not believe that any of the drugs given to the man could cause damage to the hearing, while the patient did not have any problems in the canals or eardrums before he was infected with Corona.

The additional tests did not show any sign of autoimmune problems, while the patient did not have influenza or acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS), which are conditions previously associated with hearing loss, and moreover, the man did not have any hearing problems before.

Subsequent tests revealed that the man suffers from nerve weakness in his left ear, a condition in which the inner ear or the nerve responsible for the sound is inflamed or damaged, knowing that he had received treatment for this symptom with partial success.

This is the first case of its kind in which hearing problems are reported among Corona patients in Britain, despite a small number of similar reports from other countries.

Study co-author Stefania Cumba said that it was not yet known how the Corona virus could cause hearing loss, but there were "possible explanations."

She said: "It is possible that the virus enters the inner ear cells and leads to their death, or causes the body to secrete inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that can be toxic to the inner ear."

The study team says that "Covid 19" patients in intensive care should be asked about their hearing condition, and referred to emergency treatment if they feel problems with the ear.

"Even hearing loss in one ear has severe consequences for a person's life if not treated promptly," Cumba said.

According to Kevin Monroe, professor of hearing at the University of Manchester, "It is known that other viruses, including measles and mumps, can affect hearing."

The doctor confirmed that he had received calls from a large number of Corona virus survivors, to report a change in their hearing or feeling ringing in the ear.

He said that 16 of 121 patients who were admitted to the hospital due to their infection with Corona, reported hearing problems about two months after discharge, according to a survey conducted by a team working with him.

Monroe explained that his team is now investigating the spread and causes of such problems, noting that "it is unclear whether they are caused by the virus itself, the immune system response, stress, or even Covid 19 treatments."

He continued: "I think there will likely be many explanations for why Corona patients report their hearing problems."