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COVID and Tinnitus: Florian’s Story

COVID and Tinnitus

COVID and Tinnitus: Mild Coronavirus, Persistent Tinnitus

Florian is the CEO of an international business. He battled a mild case of coronavirus in mid-2022. Unfortunately, this battle with coronavirus was also the beginning of a life with unpleasant ringing in his ears. Research into links between COVID and tinnitus is yet inconclusive. However, there was no doubt that Florian’s ringing grew louder after his bout.

During the day he is very busy and, as a result, his tinnitus doesn’t bother him very much. However, in the evening his distress grows and the ringing in his ears makes sleeping very difficult.

“When everything got quiet, it got loud for me,” is how Florian describes his first experience with tinnitus.

Visits to multiple ENTs (ear, nose and throat specialists) proved to be unsuccessful. The medication dosage was changed but the tinnitus noise remained the same.

As time went on, restful sleep became a rarity.

Searching for Tinnitus Treatments

Doctors explained to him that tinnitus can be a side effect of the coronavirus, especially in men. In many patients, tinnitus disappeared without treatment after a few weeks. 

Since the medication had not worked, it was apparent that he would have to live with the tinnitus. Florian then spent six months trying to get used to the annoying noise in his ears. 

He researched what has helped other sufferers. Solutions included hearing aids and noise machines. Florian wanted to return to sleeping without bothering his wife with a splashing water fountain noise machine. So, he turned to a hearing aid acoustician that he trusts. 

He wanted to get a hearing aid that generates noise fitted to help distract his brain from the tinnitus sound. Instead of a noise masking hearing aid, the acoustician introduces him to Lenire, a tinnitus treatment device designed to provide long term relief.

Using Lenire to Treat Tinnitus

However, he first wants proof that the system can actually work. He learns his tinnitus frequency and finds a suitable white noise track on Youtube. After listening for 30-mins, he noticed that his tinnitus had changed.

“I thought: if my tinnitus changes by listening to certain sounds, then Lenire, which works with sounds among other things, will also have an effect. That’s how I understood it, and that’s how it worked.” reflected Florian R.

The improvement is so noticeable that, after a short time, Florian uses Lenire not just one, but up to two and a half hours a day. It is important to note that 1-hour per day or two 30-minute sessions is the recommended daily use.

Since then, he uses one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening, and half an hour during his lunch break. This is simply because it feels so good. 

Asked about the improvement in quality of life, he beams: “Sure, tinnitus always fluctuates a bit. I would say that on good days, the perceived loudness is 90 percent lower. On bad days, however, it’s still 70 percent lower. I can finally go back to sleep in peace.”

COVID and Tinnitus Research: Insightful but Inconclusive

Sars-Cov-2’s impact on the hearing and overall ear health has not yet been fully clarified. However, increased complaints have been noted after a battle with Covid-19. 

For example, a meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Manchester, published in the International Journal of Audiology1, concluded that infection can also negatively affect the hearing organ. 

The scientists looked at 56 studies and analysed their data. The result showed that as a result of 14.8% of the studied corona diseases, tinnitus was detected. 

Hearing loss also occurred in 7.6%. In 7.2% of the cases, the complaints were additionally accompanied by balance problems and dizziness. 

However, it is as yet scientifically unclear whether tinnitus and hearing loss occur directly as a result of the viral infection, or a consequence of the physical stress linked to Sars-CoV-2.

An international team of researchers has also dealt with the question of how an infection with coronaviruses affects people with chronic tinnitus. 

The researchers from England, Belgium, the USA, the Netherlands, Sweden and India evaluated the data of 3,103 tinnitus patients from 48 countries for their study. 

40% of those who suffered from Covid-19 symptoms said their tinnitus had also worsened. 

Thankfully, Florian responded strongly to tinnitus treatment and can now return to normal life, restful sleep and is now taking extra time to relax.

Start Treating Tinnitus Today

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If you suffer from tinnitus due to hearing loss, physical injury, infection or other reasons, Lenire has been clinically proven to provide long term relief from tinnitus.

Find a clinic near you and get advice from an audiologist who will assess your hearing and tinnitus profile. Their expertise will help you start your tinnitus treatment program.

Watch more Lenire Patient Stories.

1International Journal of Audiology, Taylor & Francis Online [tandfonline.com])

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