Is COVID 19 Vaccination linked to Risk of Hearing Loss, explore JAMA studies

The authors concluded, “ This study suggests that the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine might be associated with increased risk of SSNHL; however, the effect size is very small. Further studies are warranted to establish this possible association.”

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Angela K. Ulrich and her team wrote, “Neither study identified clear demographic or clinical risk factors associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, nor did they address important measurements regarding the severity and duration of hearing loss or the clinical outcomes after treatment”.

They further added, “The many benefits of COVID-19 vaccines substantially outweigh the rare risks associated with vaccination. Targeted identification of sudden sensorineural hearing loss will aid in future investigations of this condition as an outcome of interest as well as assessments of potential adverse events after immunization and will aid in the timely recognition of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Ongoing surveillance to detect rare adverse events after vaccination is important to ensuring the safety of these vaccines and engendering the public’s trust.”

For further information:

Study 1: Eric J. Formeister MD, MS,et al. Assessment of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss After COVID-19 Vaccination, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.4414.Study 2: Yoav Yanir MD, et al. Association Between the BNT162b2 Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccine and the Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.4278.