The hidden ‘symptom’ of Covid that only the sufferer can hear – Leicestershire Live – Leicestershire Live

Reports of a distressing condition that can dramatically affect people’s daily lives rose during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tinnitus is when someone can hear a noise but nobody else can – it could be a low-pitched humming, a buzzing, a high-pitch whistle or a hissing.

International Journal of Audiology estimated that as many as one in six individuals with Covid had tinnitus, most often during the early stages of the virus.

While the NHS lists tinnitus as one of the symptoms of long Covid – also known as post-Covid syndrome.

Below, Katie Ogden, the HCPC registered hearing aid dispenser and Training Manager for ReSound North-West Europe offers some expert advice on tinnitus. There is also a list of long-Covid symptoms from the NHS

How to tell if you’re suffering from tinnitus?

There is no set rule about what that sound will be with the following being the most common:

• A low pitch humming sound
• A high pitch whistle
• Buzzing
• Clicking
• Hissing
• Throbbing
• Music

How can it impact everyday life?

Tinnitus can be very distracting and prevent people from being able to concentrate which in turn is very frustrating, it is often associated with insomnia and can contribute to issues with mental health such as anxiety, stress and depression.

The vicious cycle

The difficulty is that tinnitus can become part of a vicious cycle, in its most basic form of this cycle, stress feeds off of tinnitus and tinnitus feeds off of stress so the key to successfully managing tinnitus is to find the method/s that breaks the cycle for the person that is struggling to cope with tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

There is no clear cause for tinnitus only theories of possibilities, this is why there is no cure. Remember this is a sound that no one else can hear, which means no one else can prove if it is even happening, nor can anyone prove it isn’t happening. This makes tinnitus an incredibly complex condition but also a very unique condition to the person who is trying to live with it.

There are however some thoughts around possible causes relating to hearing loss:

• Trauma to the head, neck and ears
• Infections
• Wax build-ups
• Stress and anxiety
• Nerve damage and other neurological disorders
• Treatments and medication

On the other hand, tinnitus can often occur or start for absolutely no reason at all.

How to manage and cope with tinnitus

While there is no …….

Source: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/hidden-symptom-covid-only-sufferer-6484602