COVID-19 Vaccines and Tinnitus (Ear Ringing): What You Should Know
Key takeaways:
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or a whooshing sound that can only be heard by the person experiencing it.
People have developed ear ringing (tinnitus) after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and after getting sick with COVID.
There’s no cure for COVID tinnitus. But it usually goes away on its own over days to weeks.
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If you’ve recently gotten or are about to get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster, you may be looking for a refresher on potential side effects. Some people who get sick with COVID develop tinnitus. But does the COVID vaccine also cause ear ringing? Here’s what to know about tinnitus from the COVID vaccine, as well as COVID ear ringing.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus describes the experience of hearing a sound even when there’s no source for that sound. In other words, you hear a phantom noise that others don’t.
Many people use the term tinnitus and ear ringing interchangeably. Tinnitus can definitely sound like ringing, but it might also sound like:
Hissing
Roaring
Humming
Buzzing
Whooshing
Clicking
High-pitched noises
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Some people with tinnitus hear these noises all the time. For others, the noises come and go throughout the day. Tinnitus can affect one ear or both ears.
Tinnitus can affect your day-to-day activities because it can make it hard for you to hear. The constant noise can also keep you from falling or staying asleep.
Does the COVID vaccine cause tinnitus?
There’s no direct evidence that the COVID vaccine causes tinnitus or ear ringing.
But there are reports of people developing tinnitus and ear ringing after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. One study found that about 12,000 people reported experiencing ear ringing or tinnitus to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) in the first year the vaccine was made available to the general public.
So, rest assured that you’re not alone if you did develop tinnitus after getting your COVID vaccine. Healthcare professionals are aware that some people may develop ear ringing after the COVID vaccine, and they’re prepared to help. Reach out to your healthcare team if you experience ear ringing or any hearing changes within 3 weeks of receiving your COVID vaccine.
Reports of COVID vaccine-related tinnitus are concerning. But they shouldn’t keep you from getting your COVID vaccine. Tinnitus after COVID vaccines isn’t common. A study of 2.5 million people found that only 0.038% developed tinnitus after getting the COVID vaccine. And people were more likely to develop tinnitus after the first dose of a COVID vaccine. If you’ve previously been vaccinated, it’s likely that your risk of developing ear ringing is even lower.
What else causes ear ringing? Medications are a common cause of tinnitus. See if yours is on the list.
Ear ringing is a symptom of COVID illness. Learn more about common COVID symptoms.
Want to learn more about keeping your hearing healthy? The GoodRx hearing and ear care center has everything you need to get started.
Newer studies paint an even more reassuring picture. A recent study found that cases of tinnitus after COVID vaccination were very low. Between 2021 and 2024, there were about 84 reports of tinnitus for every one million doses of COVID vaccines administered.
So, right now, the evidence suggests that the risk of developing tinnitus after a COVID vaccine is extremely low.
Can COVID-19 illness cause tinnitus?
It’s not clear if the COVID virus directly causes tinnitus. But many people who’ve gotten sick with COVID have developed tinnitus. COVID ear ringing and COVID tinnitus aren’t common complications of a COVID illness. But you’re more likely to develop tinnitus from a COVID illness than from the COVID vaccine.
At the start of the COVID pandemic, studies reported that anywhere from 8% to 15% of people developed tinnitus after a COVID illness. A larger review of studies found that about 4% of people experienced COVID tinnitus.
As noted above, rates of tinnitus after the COVID vaccine were lower than 0.05%. The evidence suggests that you’re more likely to develop tinnitus from COVID illness than from a COVID vaccine.
What to do if you have tinnitus after your COVID vaccine
If you develop tinnitus after your COVID vaccine, report it to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Anyone can report a reaction after receiving a vaccine, including the COVID vaccine. Reporting your side effects helps the CDC keep track of safety events. This helps the CDC make evidence-based decisions that benefit the health and safety of all.
You can make your report online or upload a paper copy of your report to the VAERS system.
How do you treat tinnitus related to COVID illness or the COVID vaccine?
There’s no cure for tinnitus. But there are treatments that can help ease the symptoms. Talk to your healthcare team about treatment options for ear ringing.
Some things that can help ease the symptoms of tinnitus include:
Medications
Masking and retraining therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Biofeedback
You may need to work with an audiologist or therapist for these treatments. The goal of therapy is to retrain your brain to not to notice the sounds as much, so they don’t distract or disrupt your daily life.
How long does ear ringing from the COVID vaccines last?
It’s not clear how long ear ringing can last after a COVID vaccine. One study reported that participants had “rapid” resolution of their tinnitus. But the report didn’t specify a time frame.
It’s not clear how long COVID tinnitus lasts either. In studies, people who developed tinnitus after COVID illness reported that it took days to months for their symptoms to go away.
Frequently asked questions
COVID illness has been linked to a number of ear problems, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and inner ear infections. Hearing loss linked to COVID illness is often permanent. Inner ear infections related to COVID illness can trigger vertigo and balance difficulties that can last for weeks.
There’s no cure for tinnitus. Sometimes, ear ringing and tinnitus related to COVID illness or COVID vaccination goes away within a few days. But, sometimes, it can take months for these symptoms to resolve. Therapy can help retrain the ear to focus on other sounds, so tinnitus isn’t so bothersome.
Many people who have post-COVID 19 syndrome (long COVID) report ear symptoms, including hearing changes, vertigo, and tinnitus.
The bottom line
Tinnitus — or ear ringing — can happen after COVID-19 vaccines, but it’s very rare. There’s no evidence that the COVID vaccine itself causes tinnitus. Tinnitus is more common after a COVID illness than after a COVID vaccine.
If you develop tinnitus after your COVID vaccine, report it to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). Tinnitus after the COVID vaccine often quickly goes away on its own. But, if you still have ear ringing after a week, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options.
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References
Ahmed, S. H., et al. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-associated-tinnitus: A review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery.
Almufarrij, I., et al. (2021). One year on: An updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and audio-vestibular symptoms. International Journal of Audiology.
Beukes, E., et al. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 and the pandemic on tinnitus: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Chen, J., et al. (2022). Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine-associated tinnitus and treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation. QJM: Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians.
Chirakkal, P., et al. (2021). COVID-19 and tinnitus. Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal.
Davis, H. E., et al. (2021). Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. eClinicalMedicine.
Dorney, I., et al. (2022). Prevalence of new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination with comparison to other vaccinations. The Laryngoscope.
Hirt, Z., et al. (2023). Sensorineural hearing loss as a complication of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Cureus.
Jafari, Z., et al. (2021). Hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.
Jeong, M., et al. (2021). Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction. Communications Medicine.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2023). Tinnitus.
Savtale, S., et al. (2021). Prevalence of otorhinolaryngological symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery.
Yih, W. K., et al. (2024). Tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination: Findings from the vaccine adverse event reporting system and the vaccine safety datalink. American Journal of Otolaryngology.
