We’ve got another good reason to wash your hands: a new study out of South Korea found that the risk of hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss was heightened in young adults after COVID-19 infection. It has long been suspected based on anecdotal reports that COVID-19 infection may affect auditory systems, including hearing loss and tinnitus. But this study, published in The Lancet on July 29, 2024, sheds new light on the issue.

The study, which began in July 2022, consisted of a nationwide, population-based cohort and used data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service. Participants were adults aged 20-39 without a history of hearing loss. All participants were followed for six months, or until hearing loss or death. Any COVID-19 infection during that period was confirmed by laboratory testing.

A total of 6,716,879 participants were enrolled in the study. Of those, 38,269 reported hearing loss and 5,908 reported sensorineural hearing loss. The risks of both hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss were higher in participants who had COVID-19 infection during the study period. In fact, the incidence of hearing loss among the COVID-19 group was 3 times higher than that of the non-infected group (11.9 cases per 10,000 person-months compared to 3.4 cases per 10,000 person-months in the non-infected group).

These results have huge implications for hearing health. Though the study lacked objective audiological data, it is clear that COVID-19 infection has some significant impact on hearing health. This study highlights the importance of infection prevention, as well as appropriate treatment options for those suffering from audiological issues associated with infection.

Read the full study here.

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