Publication Date

10-9-2025

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Audiology Research

Volume

15

Issue

5

DOI

10.3390/audiolres15050132

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate retrospectively self-reported changes in tinnitus severity and distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination using validated self-report instruments. It further explored patient-reported onset of tinnitus following vaccination, gender differences in symptom severity, and associations with psychological distress. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 189 adults between December 2023 and April 2024. Participants retrospectively self-reported tinnitus onset and severity before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ). Additional items assessed COVID-19 vaccination history, infection status, and adverse vaccine reactions. Repeated measures ANOVAs and chi-square tests were used to examine retrospectively reported longitudinal changes and group differences. Results: Mean THI scores increased significantly over time—before (M = 9.57, SD = 16.00), during (M = 29.97, SD = 32.30), and currently (M = 36.92, SD = 28.04)—with large effect sizes across functional, emotional, and catastrophic subscales (p < 0.001). TRQ scores also were reported to rise from before (M = 7.86, SD = 15.29) to during (M = 26.38, SD = 29.58) and remained elevated at the current time (M = 29.79, SD = 24.00), p < 0.001. Approximately 25.9% and 27.0% of respondents reported new or worsened tinnitus after the first and second vaccine doses, respectively. No significant gender differences in symptom severity were observed. TRQ severity classification revealed a marked shift, with moderate or greater distress increasing from 5.8% (before) to 35.6% (current). Conclusions: Retrospective self-reports indicated that tinnitus burden significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained elevated at the time of survey completion. A notable proportion of individuals reported new-onset tinnitus following vaccination, though causality cannot be inferred. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and comprehensive care addressing both audiological and psychological components of tinnitus.

Keywords

audiology, COVID-19, pandemic, psychological distress, THI, tinnitus, TRQ, vaccination

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Audiology

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