Hearing and balance problems after COVID-19 in Veterans
Official title: Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Auditory Outcomes in Veterans Following COVID-19
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11218682 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether COVID-19 is linked to new hearing loss, tinnitus, or dizziness in Veterans and what might be causing those problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX005064-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11218682 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans who had COVID-19 and then experienced new sudden hearing loss, new or worse tinnitus, or new dizziness, and who can provide medical records and blood samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of COVID-19 or without new auditory or balance symptoms, or those unwilling to provide blood samples or records, are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of research focused on Veterans who developed sudden hearing loss or new tinnitus/vertigo after COVID-19. The team will review health histories, hearing test results, and treatment outcomes for affected Veterans. They will also measure COVID antibody levels and blood markers of inflammation and clotting to look for biological signs linked to hearing problems. Results will compare Veterans with and without serologic evidence of past COVID to better understand short- and long-term changes in hearing and balance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify biological markers and causes of COVID-linked ear and hearing problems and guide better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies on COVID-related hearing problems have shown mixed and sometimes conflicting findings, so this work builds on emerging but inconsistent evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reavis, Kelly M. — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Reavis, Kelly M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.