Covid-19 patients who survive the ailment may develop hearing loss, which has emerged as one of the lingering complications in some people after the virus has been cleared from the body.

Although this complication has been largely anecdotal so far, doctors are starting to investigate these claims as reported in end-July.

Further studies into Covid-19-related hearing loss

A team from the University of Manchester surveyed 121 coronavirus survivors eight weeks after they were discharged from hospital and put together their findings.

So far what is known is that the coronavirus infection is mild in four out of five cases, with most making a full recovery.

But in severe incidences, some appear to be coming down with so-called post-Covid syndrome.

Sixteen (13.2 per cent) of the 121 patients surveyed complained their hearing was worse.

Eight of whom reported deterioration to the sense, and another eight developed tinnitus, which is characterised by hearing ringing, whooshing or buzzing without an external source.

What study author said

Study author Professor Kevin Munro said of this finding: “We already know viruses such as measles, mumps and meningitis can cause hearing loss and coronaviruses can damage the nerves that carry information to and from the brain.”

He added that it is possible that Covid-19 causes problems with parts of the auditory system, including the middle ear or cochlea.

Can't hear properly in noisy places

One issue, known as auditory neuropathy, could be a feature.

Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder where the cochlea is functioning, but transmission along the auditory nerve to the brain is impaired.

The impairment makes it difficult for those affected to join in conversations where there is a lot of background noises, such as in a busy area.

The neurological condition Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is also linked to auditory neuropathy.

GBS has occurred in a handful of coronavirus patients.

In severe cases, GBS leaves patients struggling to swallow, walk or even breathe.

While not conclusive -- and hearing loss is not listed as a symptom of Covid-19 -- the condition will not be ruled out just yet.

Background

The current coronavirus is one of seven strains of a class of viruses that are known to infect humans.

The others include the common cold and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which killed 774 people in its 2002 and 2003 outbreak.

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