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Researchers publish study on prevalence of tinnitus following vaccinations

A team of Case Western Reserve University researchers completed a study on the prevalence of new-onset tinnitus following vaccinations, including for COVID-19.

The team consisted of:

  • Ian Dorney, medical student;
  • Lukas Bobak, medical student;
  • Todd Otteson, professor of pediatrics and otolaryngology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and division chief of pediatric otolaryngology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; and
  • David Kaelber, professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, chief medical informatics officer and vice president of health informatics and patient engagement technologies at MetroHealth.

The researchers used a large aggregated electronic health record database that shows how often people are diagnosed with new tinnitus (ringing of the ears) within 21 days after COVID-19 vaccination. The rate of newly diagnosed tinnitus post-vaccination was very low and was lower than after three other routine vaccinations.

Read their research article, which was published in The Laryngoscope.