Study: COVID Can Infect the Inner Ear

Key Takeaways

COVID-19 can cause a range of symptoms. In some cases, it can even lead to ear-related symptoms likehearing loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and balance issues. Reports of these symptoms have led researchers to suspect that the virus could infect the innerear.

Now, a new study from MIT and Massachusetts Eye and Ear has found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, does indeed have the ability to get into the ear and cause infection.

The Anatomy of Your Inner Ear

What the Study Found

The study, which was published in the journalCommunications Medicine, examined inner ear tissue from 10 COVID-19 patients with ear symptoms such as hearing loss, balance issues, and ringing in the ears (also known as tinnitus). The researchers also used cellular models and mouse inner ear tissue.

By using human and mouse inner ear tissue as well as generated cellular models, the researchers were able to show how it’s possible for SARS-CoV-2 to get into the inner ear and infect certain parts of it.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that “inner ear infection may underlie COVID-19-associated problems with hearing and balance."

Does COVID Cause Ear Infections?

COVID Ear Symptoms

Currently, there are no ear-related symptoms on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s list ofCOVID-19 symptoms, which includes:

However, the CDC also states that its list “does not include all possible symptoms.” Furthermore, the organization also notes thatdizziness on standingis a possible symptom oflong COVID.

John Sellick, DOTinnitus, in particular, seems to be fairly common with long-haulers. The question is, is this going to resolve or not?

John Sellick, DO

Tinnitus, in particular, seems to be fairly common with long-haulers. The question is, is this going to resolve or not?

There have been several case reports of patients developing tinnitus after being sick with COVID-19, including one of a 35-year-old woman in Qatar who developed hearing loss and tinnitus when she had the virus. Her symptoms persisted even after she recovered from the virus and hearing tests confirmed that she hadhearing loss at low frequenciesin her left ear.

A meta-analysis published in theInternational Journal of Audiologyin March2021 analyzed data from 28 case reports and 28 cross-sectional studies. The results indicated that 7.6% of patients with COVID-19 had hearing loss, 14.8% experienced tinnitus, and 7.2% hadvertigoafter having the virus.

John Sellick, DO, an infectious disease expert and a professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo/SUNY, tells Verywell that “Tinnitus, in particular, seems to be fairly common with long-haulers. The question is, is this going to resolve or not?”

Doctors Still Aren’t Sure Why COVID-19 Is Causing Hearing Loss

Other Causes of Ear Infections

Scott Shapiro, MD, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, tells Verywell that other viruses, like those that cause colds, the flu, andmeaslesand mumps, can all infect the inner ear as well.

According to infectious disease expertAmesh A. Adalja, MD,a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, “the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter cells is widespread, so it’s not surprising to see that infection of the cells of the inner ear is possible.

Adalja says that many viruses “are able to cause disease in the inner ear but it is unclear how many do it through direct viral infection.”

Shapiro says that while the findings of the new study are “not surprising,” they’re still important because they’re the first to prove that COVID-19 can affect this part of the ear. “We see a lot of patients that report ear-related symptoms after having COVID-19,” says Shapiro. “But we’ve never been able to say mechanistically that the virus actually gets into the cells of the inner ear.”

Causes of Ear Pain

When to See Your Doctor

If you have ear symptoms, Shapiro recommends seeing your primary care physician—especially if you have hearing loss or your symptoms are not getting better because in this case, “it’s usually inner ear hearing loss and it’s time-sensitive to treat.”

However, Shapiro also points out that it can be “hard for doctors to pin" ear symptoms on COVID, partly because “tinnitus and hearing loss are common” even in people who haven’t had the virus recently. That’s why he recommends getting evaluated if you have any hearing changes.

Sellick says that the link between ear-related issues and COVID-19 “is another reason toget vaccinated,” and reminds folks that “having ear-related issues is not a good thing.”

What This Means For YouScientists have now determined that it’s possible for the virus that causes COVID-19 to infect the inner ear, which might explain why some people who get the virus have ear-related symptoms.That said, there are also other viruses and causes of ear symptoms. If you have ear-related symptoms after having COVID, make sure to see your doctor. They can determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treamtent.

What This Means For You

Scientists have now determined that it’s possible for the virus that causes COVID-19 to infect the inner ear, which might explain why some people who get the virus have ear-related symptoms.That said, there are also other viruses and causes of ear symptoms. If you have ear-related symptoms after having COVID, make sure to see your doctor. They can determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treamtent.

Scientists have now determined that it’s possible for the virus that causes COVID-19 to infect the inner ear, which might explain why some people who get the virus have ear-related symptoms.

That said, there are also other viruses and causes of ear symptoms. If you have ear-related symptoms after having COVID, make sure to see your doctor. They can determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treamtent.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Communications Medicine. 2021;1(1):44. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-w.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post COVID conditions.Chirakkal P, Al Hail AN, Zada N, Vijayakumar DS.COVID-19 and Tinnitus.Ear Nose Throat Journal. 2021;100(2_suppl):160S-162S. doi:10.1177/0145561320974849Almufarrij I, Munro KJ.One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.International Journal of Audiology. Published online March 22, 2021:1-11. doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Communications Medicine. 2021;1(1):44. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-w.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post COVID conditions.Chirakkal P, Al Hail AN, Zada N, Vijayakumar DS.COVID-19 and Tinnitus.Ear Nose Throat Journal. 2021;100(2_suppl):160S-162S. doi:10.1177/0145561320974849Almufarrij I, Munro KJ.One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.International Journal of Audiology. Published online March 22, 2021:1-11. doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793

Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Communications Medicine. 2021;1(1):44. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-w.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post COVID conditions.Chirakkal P, Al Hail AN, Zada N, Vijayakumar DS.COVID-19 and Tinnitus.Ear Nose Throat Journal. 2021;100(2_suppl):160S-162S. doi:10.1177/0145561320974849Almufarrij I, Munro KJ.One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.International Journal of Audiology. Published online March 22, 2021:1-11. doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post COVID conditions.

Chirakkal P, Al Hail AN, Zada N, Vijayakumar DS.COVID-19 and Tinnitus.Ear Nose Throat Journal. 2021;100(2_suppl):160S-162S. doi:10.1177/0145561320974849

Almufarrij I, Munro KJ.One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.International Journal of Audiology. Published online March 22, 2021:1-11. doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?

Key Takeaways#

What the Study Found#

COVID Ear Symptoms#

John Sellick, DO#

Other Causes of Ear Infections#

When to See Your Doctor#

What This Means For You#