How COVID-19 and Tinnitus Reshaped My Life and Research
By Anusha Yellamsetty, PhD
The onset of my tinnitus was as unexpected as the pandemic that upended the world. In the early days of lockdown, I noticed a faint ringing in my ears—subtle at first, almost ignorable. But as the months passed, the sound became an unrelenting presence, a high-pitched hum that followed me everywhere.
When the vaccines arrived, bringing hope of normalcy, I eagerly got vaccinated. Yet, to my dismay, the ringing intensified. It was no longer just a background noise; it became an intrusive force, disrupting my ability to read, focus, and even sleep. The things I once loved—diving into research papers, writing proposals, and immersing myself in literature—became insurmountable challenges.
I was in the middle of my postdoctoral research, a period that was meant to be a steppingstone toward an academic career. But with my mind in constant distress, I found solace in tasks that required less cognitive strain. I shifted my focus to data collection and product development, areas where I could still contribute without the mental exhaustion that reading and writing now demanded. It was an unplanned pivot, but it became a defining moment in my career transition.
The job hunt was grueling. The weight of my tinnitus, coupled with the gap in my publication record, made me question my capabilities. Would I ever regain the confidence I once had? Would I ever be the same researcher, the same thinker? There were days when I felt lost in the noise, not just in my ears but in my mind, where self-doubt whispered louder than ambition.
Yet, in time, persistence paid off. I secured a faculty position as an assistant professor—a milestone that should have felt triumphant. But as I settled into my role, something unexpected happened. My students, and even their patients, began sharing their own struggles with tinnitus. Their experiences mirrored mine, and for the first time, I realized I was not alone.
This realization ignited a new purpose. I began conducting surveys, gathering data, and speaking with clinicians to understand the patterns behind tinnitus onset and its worsening during the pandemic. I heard stories from doctors and patients alike—stories of frustration, of sleepless nights, of a silent battle fought in isolation.
And so, my research shifted. What had once been a personal struggle transformed into a scientific inquiry. I was no longer just a person living with tinnitus—I was a researcher trying to understand it.
Looking back, tinnitus shaped my path in ways I never anticipated. It took things from me, but it also gave me a new direction. The sound that once felt like an unbearable burden became the reason I found my purpose. And perhaps, in time, this work will help others find solace in their own journeys, just as I found in mine.
Anusha Yellamsetty, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Audiology at San Jose State University, Calif. Her research focuses on digital health technologies, self-fitting hearing aids, and auditory neuroscience. She is also actively investigating the relationship between COVID-19, vaccination, and tinnitus severity, exploring its effects on auditory health, speech perception, and psychological well-being. Dr. Yellamsetty has a strong background in clinical audiology, auditory signal processing, and real-world hearing aid outcomes. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance audiology research and is dedicated to mentoring students and contributing to evidence-based audiology practices.